How ferns reproduce. How the ferns of the Vyatka forests reproduce

Fern. Popular rumor ascribes to this plant magical power. It is believed that once a year, on the night of Ivan Kupala, you can see how this plant blooms. Well, if you manage to find and pick a fern flower, then you will understand the language of animals and birds, you will gain the ability to clairvoyance and find out where the treasures are buried.

Unfortunately, fern flowering is possible only in legends and fairy tales. In fact, ferns reproduce by spores and never bloom. Unless our genetic scientists can cross a rose or other flower with a fern and bring out new variety a plant already endowed with the ability to bloom. Then the prophecy will come true exactly - the language of plants will really become clear to a person, and he will find the treasure of the greatest value. In fact, there was no need to look for him. The treasure is buried in ourselves - this is the knowledge and desire of mankind to know the laws of nature and being.

Fern - the oldest plant on the planet

Ferns on Earth existed 40 million years ago. Of course, initially they were very different from the evolved specimens that now grow on our blue planet. Ancient ferns were gigantic and looked more like trees than plants. But even now the species that we call ferns are so diverse that they are related only by the shape of the leaf and the method of reproduction. In our time, botanists have over 10 thousand species of this exotic plant.

The habitat of ferns is huge. Most species prefer forests and wetlands. Some species of plants are found high in the mountains, where their roots cling to rock crevices. There are ferns that can survive in arid deserts.

There are also those that grow right on the trees. For such a long period of existence, the plant has adapted to life in the most extreme conditions.

How does it happen in nature

To find out how a fern reproduces, you need to examine its leaf under a microscope.

If you look closely, then in the lower part of the sheet you can see tubercles of a dark color arranged in rows. They contain small sacs in which spores ripen. With the help of spores, this plant, preserved from ancient times, reproduces. Now you know how the fern reproduces. It is impossible to see this plant releasing a peduncle in nature - this exists only in folk tales.

bracken fern

The name "bracken" for this species of ferns did not arise by chance - its leaves are too similar to huge eagle wings. Bracken leaves can reach up to 1.5 m in width and up to 1 meter in height. The plant has healing substances for health - it contains catechins, flavonoids, phytosterols, carotene, riboflavin and nicotinic acid. Therefore, it is widely used in cooking and pharmaceuticals.

Do you want to know how the bracken fern reproduces in order to grow it at home? The easiest way to do this is in a vegetative way - by digging up or purchasing a plant along with thin cord-like rhizomes. For transplantation, the fern, transplanted at the end of summer, is most favorable, but it can also take root well.

The bracken fern also reproduces by spores. Their maturation occurs at the end of July beginning of September. During this period of time, you can try to cut off the spores from an adult plant and dispel them in a humid place in your area.

Bracken fern is unpretentious in care - it does not require top dressing, it easily tolerates frost and lack of moisture.

Knowing how the bracken fern breeds, it can be easily grown on your own. garden plot. The plant is very decorative, unpretentious and has the ability to grow rapidly, which won the hearts of flower growers.

How the ferns of the Vyatka forests reproduce

Vyatka forests. The nature here is so pristine and poorly understood that, according to local residents, there is a "snowman" here. Particularly attractive is the left bank, not affected by agricultural farming, where the entire territory is occupied by floodplain meadows and forests. The grass cover of this piece of land is multi-tiered and quite diverse. Not the last place in it belongs to ferns.

Most often, in the Vyatka forests, there are such types of ferns as the shield, the kochedyzhnik and the common bracken.

On plots of land with constantly moist soil, whole fern spruce forests are found. It is amazing how the ferns of the Vyatka forests reproduce: openwork fern leaves are attached to the spruce forest and grow without touching the ground. This spectacle is especially beautiful in autumn, when the fern leaves turn yellow and against the background of green fir trees form fancy laces woven by nature.

Ways to reproduce ferns

Ferns are not the only ferns. This group of plants also includes horsetail and lycopsid species. Outwardly, they differ significantly from each other, but all have vegetative organs: shoot (leaves and stem) and root. They are also united by the fact that ferns, horsetails and club mosses reproduce vegetatively, by spores and sexually.

If the method and disputes are well known and understandable, then the sexual is not known to everyone. The development of ferns occurs in a cycle: an asexual generation grows from the sexual generation, which in turn gives life to the sexual generation.

The asexual generation is a powerful plant with developed pinnate leaves, and the sexual one is small growths that exist only for a short time. The clubmoss and horsetail reproduce in the same way as the fern reproduces: asexually and hollowly.

Asexual generation of ferns

Ferns are higher spore plants that grow mainly in moist shaded places. They have leaves, stems and roots. In the stems of ferns, horsetails and club mosses there is a special resembling vessel.

Asexual generation - when the sporophyte is a leafy plant, in which spores are formed in special organs located on the leaves (sporangia). In club moss and horsetail, spores ripen in peculiar spikelets formed on the tops of shoots, in fern - in sacs located on reverse side sheet.

Sexual generation of ferns

Once in favorable conditions, spores grow and form a growth - a small plant that represents the sexual generation, the so-called gametophyte. The growth looks like a small green plate, reaching 1 cm in diameter. In the lower part of the growth there are rhizoids, with the help of which a tiny plant is attached to the soil. In the overgrowth, female and male (archegonia and antheridia) are formed, in which eggs and spermatozoa develop. Since the growth is tightly pressed to the ground, drops of dew or rain linger under it. Through this water, the spermatozoa "swim" to the eggs. When they merge, fertilization occurs, and a new plant subsequently develops from the resulting zygote, which immediately gains growth, turning into a powerful fern.

The fern blossoms, releasing a single bud that burns with a scarlet flame, showing the lucky person who sees it the place where the treasures are buried. Therefore, the fern has long been considered mystical plant and attracts hunters for illusory wealth. But ... the whole point is that the fern, for all its undeniable merits, does not bloom - at all.

In this photo, it’s not a fern that blooms, but a lily that “escaped” into the forest))

fern planting

All types of ferns love shady places and moist soils. If you have shaded places in your country house where other plants feel uncomfortable, plant a fern there, it easily tolerates unfavorable conditions for other plants and poorly fertilized soils.

When planting a fern, use common sense: make the distance between the planting holes and the depth of the holes based on the size of the plant in adulthood. When planting long-rhizome fern species, or take them large areas(since they can greatly crowd out their "neighbors"), or make an artificial limitation of the area for them.

Fern propagation by spores

A fern is an asexual plant that does not have flowers and, but reproduces in nature disputes. On the lower part of the leaf of an adult plant, small tubercles are visible - these are the "capacities" with spores.

For fern propagation by spores:

1. In autumn, the "capacities" are cut off along with part of the leaf and placed in paper bags to dry.
2. At the end of January, spores are sown in boxes with soil substrate: peat (2 parts), leaf ground(1 part), sand (1 part). Fern spores are a fine powder, which is poured into a thin layer on the surface of the soil, without sprinkling with earth, then moistened from a sprayer, closed the box with glass and placed in a warm room.
3. Spores usually germinate on the 2nd month after sowing, then the glass should be removed in order to provide the “kids” with air flow. During this period, the embryos are similar to thin layer moss.
4. But when in the "moss" the closure of several specimens into single plants appears, then they should be planted in separate pots 7-8 cm high and 10-12 cm in diameter.

Thus, by spring you will have fern seedlings ready for planting in open ground.

Propagation of a fern by dividing a bush

Long-rhizome ferns (,) are easier to propagate dividing the bush than disputes. The division of the bush is usually done in early spring, after the end of spring.

Propagation of a fern by a rhizome mustache

Some types of fern (Nephrolepis sublime and heart-leaved) have above-ground rhizome whiskers, from which young shoots grow.

The mustache should be dug into the soil to a depth of 8-12 cm and the ground should be thoroughly shed with water.

Fern propagation by brood buds

On the leaves of some types of ferns (bone, multi-row) are formed brood buds, from which young plants (“children”) subsequently develop.

"Children" should be separated from the leaf, placed on a moistened surface of peat moss, cover each glass jar and place the seedlings in a warm shaded place in the house. "Kids" quickly take root, and after 2-3 weeks they can be safely planted in open ground.

fern care

Fern care is not at all problematic. In autumn, the plant, sprinkling the bushes at the base with stale sawdust or withered foliage to a height of 3-5 cm. In the spring, the mulch is not removed. Before wintering, the leaves of the fern can not be cut off, the spring shoots will “clog” the withered leaves, and the plant will again take its own decorative look. In early spring feed the fern and / or complex, and water it in a drought - that, in fact, is the whole care. Winter-hardy fern species, such as ostrich, bracken, do not need to be covered for the winter - they are winter-hardy varieties and perfectly tolerate harsh winters, but the more heat-loving types of fern - golokuchnik, shield - require winter shelter.

fern species

Do not count all types of fern, sometimes differing very much both externally and in preferred conditions. I will mention a few.

Common ostrich

Common ostrich also called: "ostrich feather", as its feathery leaves, reaching 1.5 m in height, resemble an openwork lattice of ostrich feathers.

In spring, the leaves of the ostrich are wrapped in a kind of cocoon, and with the onset of warm days, they fluff up and form a luxurious funnel.

The root system is located vertically, so the ostrich needs periodic and autumn soil mulching.

Common bracken

- low (up to 70 cm) fern, perfectly adapted to dry and poor soils. Its long horizontal leaves resemble eagle feathers (hence the name), the rhizome is horizontal, highly branched.

Bracken is poisonous to pets, but completely harmless to humans.

It has strongly dissected leaves, collected in bunches. The size varies from 30 to 70 cm, depending on the variety.

Female kochedyzhnik (Athyrium filix-femina)

The rhizome is short and thick, and the spore-bearing "capacities" are covered with a beautiful velvet "coverlet". The female kochedyzhnik is a long-liver, it is able to live in one place without a transplant for more than 10 years.

Ferns are the most ancient group higher plants. Found in various environmental conditions. In the temperate zones it herbaceous plants, most common in moist forests; some grow in wetlands and in water bodies, their leaves die off for the winter. In humid tropical forests, tree-like ferns with a column-like trunk up to 20 meters high are found.

The most common ferns are bracken, ostrich.

Structure

Dominant phase in life cycle fern is a sporophyte ( mature plant). Almost all ferns have a perennial sporophyte. The sporophyte has a rather complex structure. Leaves extend vertically upward from the rhizome, adventitious roots descend downward (the primary root quickly dies off). Often, brood buds are formed on the roots, which provide vegetative propagation of plants.

General view of the fern

reproduction

The sporangia are found on the underside of the leaf, collected in bunches (sori). From above, the sori are covered with a coverlet (ring). The spores are dispersed when the sporangium wall breaks, and the ring, breaking away from the thin-walled cells, behaves like a spring. The number of spores on one plant reaches tens, hundreds of millions, sometimes billions.

Fern leaf from the underside

On moist soil, the spores germinate into a small green heart-shaped plate a few millimeters in size. This is a germ (gametophyte). It is located almost horizontally to the surface of the earth, attaching to it with rhizoids. The growth is bisexual. On the underside of the growth, female and male genital organs are formed (male - antheridia, female - archegonia).

Outgrowth formation

Fertilization takes place in aquatic environment(during dew, rain or underwater).

Fertilization

Male gametes - sperm swim up to the eggs, penetrate inside and the gametes merge.

Fertilization occurs, resulting in the formation of a zygote (fertilized egg).

Fertilization

From a fertilized egg, a sporophyte embryo is formed, consisting of a haustorium - a leg, with which it grows into the tissues of the growth and consumes from it nutrients, germinal root, kidney, first leaf of the embryo - "cotyledons".

Outgrowth formation

Over time, a fern plant develops from the growth.

fern development scheme

Thus, gametophyte ferns exist independently of the sporophyte and are adapted to living in humid conditions.

sporophyte is the whole plant that grows from the zygote - a typical land plant.

Apart from flowering plants, there are also decorative leaves. They do not bloom at all or bloom not very beautifully, and are grown by people for their unusual decorative foliage. Ferns, one of the oldest plants on Earth, can also be attributed to this group. Today it has more than 11 thousand species, but only a few are used in home floriculture and gardening. Most often they are used for sites. Among the popular species of this plant are maidenhair, asplenium, platiceritum, pellet, pteris, etc.

Ferns are interesting in that they reproduce in nature with the help of spores, like horsetails and club mosses. Spores are seeds, only very small ones, which at the same time makes it difficult for people to artificially reproduce them and makes it exciting, even gambling: will it work or not? So let's take a look at how this process happens.

Characteristic features of ferns are large long leaves which grow very slowly. On the sheet plate and spores, or seeds, are formed, with the help of which the fern reproduces.

Fern breeding methods

Artificial reproduction of ferns involves 2 ways:

For those ferns that have only one growth point, reproduction is used using root division. root system plants need to be carefully cut sharp knife between outlets. Then each plant with part of the root system is planted in the ground, well watered and sprayed. That it is desirable to perform such a procedure in cool weather.

How a fern breeds and how to care for it during the breeding season is main focus articles. But before transgressing to the coverage of this topic, we will give brief information about the plant.

Fern refers to the most ancient look fauna on our planet. It is believed that they appeared about four hundred million years ago. And thanks to its ability to adapt to different conditions he became the most common representative of spore plants.

About 11,000 species are known today. this plant. In addition, many of them are safely grown as decorative indoor flowers. And their original leaves, which are called fronds, contribute to this. The fern does not bloom and, as a result, does not form seeds. Although the mysterious belief about the fern still attracts seekers of happiness.

AT vivo fern grows in the tropics and subtropics. It belongs to the Osmund family and a group of spore plants. Today, ferns have been assigned a certain gradation that divides them into seven classes.

Ferns are also divided into the following types:

• sporophytes are asexual plants;
• Gametophytes are plants that have male and female representatives.

how indoor flower sporophytes are grown. These plants consist of two parts: the root system and the ground leaf part. Their feature is rather slow development. Leaves - fronds at the beginning of their formation are twisted into a tube, which gradually unfold and become quite voluminous. A variety of ferns is also represented by specimens with leaves about six meters long.

All varieties and types of plants are different from each other outward signs, but one thing unites them - high performance decorative. Abundant greenery original form gives the fern a special sophistication and attractiveness.

Features of the structure of fern leaves

Ferns belong to the group of higher spore plants. Their leaves are actively involved in the process of photosynthesis. Fern spores are formed on the lower part of the leaves, with the help of which sporophytes reproduce safely. There are species in which spores are formed on certain spore-bearing leaves or in the very upper part of the frond.

Depending on the species, the shape and structure of the leaves, as well as their size, differ. There are pinnately dissected forms, and there are solid ones. The leaves are also curly, up to thirty meters long, but this is in species found in natural conditions.

However, regardless of the varieties, they all belong to an unusual beautiful plants, which are very popular with flower growers.

Reproduction methods

Fern, regardless of variety, grown in room conditions can reproduce in the following ways:

• disputes;
• processes;
• dividing the bush;
• accessory kidneys.

Consider the above methods in order.

Reproduction by spores

Fern reproduction by spores is one of the most time-consuming and time-consuming method of reproduction. It can be divided into several stages:

• seed preparation;
• planting spores;
• growing seedlings and caring for them.

Fern spores can be purchased at a specialized store or you can try to collect them yourself on an adult plant, along with the sporangia in which they are formed. The sporangia are cut off when they become slightly Brown color. For full ripening, they are removed in a paper envelope. After a while, the spores will ripen and spill out. This will be the seed that needs to be planted.

The next step is soil preparation. A special soil substrate for violets is best suited. It should be mixed with one part sand and three parts peat. The resulting arrogance must be brought to a uniform state, remove large parts of the soil and sift well several times. Then the land for sowing spores must be disinfected. To do this, it is sent to the oven for four hours, where it is kept at a temperature of one hundred and twenty - one hundred and sixty degrees.

As landing capacity you can use wood, glass or plastic containers. The main thing in them is to provide holes for drainage excess fluid. Now the prepared substrate is poured into the planting boxes. The thickness of the soil should not exceed four centimeters. The soil is lightly tamped and well moistened, after which spores are sown and covered with glass. The air temperature at which shoots should appear should be constant, about twenty-three degrees. During the period of spore germination, the soil is moistened exclusively through the pallet. Landing should also be regularly ventilated and remove condensate from inside glass.

At proper care, fern spores germinate within a month. Visually, you can see that the surface of the substrate is covered with a green coating resembling moss. These are spores that have germinated, but since they do not yet have a root system and are attached to the soil exclusively by rhizoidal hairs, it is necessary to organize them good care. The air temperature should be maintained at about twenty-two degrees and soil moisture. Germinated spores are left under glass until leaves appear and root. The process of root formation and the appearance of the first leaves takes about two months. Now the seedlings need to be hardened. To do this, they need to be opened every day for a couple of hours. After the fern grows up to five centimeters, it can be replaced by watering through the pan for spraying with a spray bottle. It should be carried out at least once a week, since seedlings should be grown in a humid environment.

Note that fern seedlings need space to grow. Therefore, they should dive. It is recommended to carry out the first pick before the formation of roots. The second, and if necessary, the third, as the seedlings grow. After transplanting, seedlings need to be sprayed often so that they adapt faster and take root. This should be done several times a week.

At the age of five to six months, seedlings can be transplanted into individual flowerpots. And after another couple of months you will admire the beautiful decorative flower with gorgeous greenery.

Vegetative propagation

Shoots, division of the bush, adnexal buds - all these are ways that relate to vegetative reproduction. All, without exception, types of indoor ferns have this ability. Any grower will be able to cope, having previously familiarized himself with the necessary information.

The next moment is the reproduction of the fern by dividing the bush. There are certain requirements. First, start this species breeding only in spring. Secondly, only adult, well-developed fern flowers are used. Technically it goes like this:

• an adult fern is watered abundantly and, after softening the soil, is removed from the flowerpot;
• the roots are carefully cleaned from the ground;
• with a sharp knife, the roots are separated between the sockets;
• the resulting delenki are planted in pre-prepared fertile and light soil;
• further care is the same as for an adult plant.

Adnexal buds are formed on the formed petioles. They can also be used for self-propagation of ferns at home. But, adnexal buds are not formed in all varieties indoor fern. Therefore apply this method not for everyone without exception. The technique of reproduction by kidneys is as follows:

• the kidneys are carefully separated from the petioles;
• planted in nutrient soil under glass;
• maintain a constant high humidity air in the germination tank;
• when the roots are formed, the kidney is carefully transplanted into an individual flowerpot together with a clod of earth.

Shoots are long fluffy arrows that periodically form on a fern bush. They are also used for breeding. To do this, you need to bend the process to the soil, pin it and provide good moisture. If possible, it is better to use moss for rooting. Within a month, the shoots will form roots and begin to form the ground part. A month later, it can be separated from the mother bush and planted in a pot.

Note that vegetative methods breeding takes place in early spring.