1.  Pteris vittata.

2.  Marginal sori of Pteris vittata

3. Pteris quadriaurita

4. Marginal sori of Pteris quadriaurita

5. Systematic position Division: Filicophyta Class: Leptosporangiopsida
Order: Filicales
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Pteris
Species: P.vittata (very common), P.quadriaauritia
Habitat: Terrestrial

7. Genus: Pteris- Plant body
The plant body is the sporophyte
Differentiated into stem root and leaves
Consists of Subterranean rhizome or stem, roots and leaves
Stem (Rhizome): Stem modifies to underground rhizome. Creeping (P.vittata) or semi erect (P. cretica).
Function: anchorage
Leaves: Macrophyllous pinnately compound leaves.
Central midrib, young leaves show circinate vernation
Function: photosynthesis, some are sporophylls
Root: Adventitious roots arising from rhizhome
Function: anchorage and absorption
Other features: Homosporous and Leptosporangiate
Life cycle: Heteromorphic alternation of generation

8. Vegetative Reproduction
Death and decay of older portion of rhizome. When the decay reaches the branching regions, the two branches separate and grow as individual plants

9. Sori: Spore producing structure
Plant is homosporous.
Sporangia are grouped in continuous sorus at the lower margins of fertile pinnules or sporophylls
Marginal sorus
Continous or coenosorous: many sori are closely packed
It is protected by the upper indusial flap that is formed by the margins of the pinnae (false indusium)
The lower or the true indusium is absent.
Each sporangium produces 48 spores.

10. It is protected by the upper indusial flap that is formed by the curving of margins of the pinnae (false indusium)
A delicate membranous structure, known as indusium also arises from the lower side placenta and covers the sorus of sporangia

11. Each sporangium is composed of a multi cellular stalk and a capsule.
The wall of the capsule is composed of a single layer of thin walled cells.
A row of specially thickened cells, known as annulus partially surrounds the capsule. At one side of the annulus, there is a stomium composed of thin walled cells.
On maturity, the sporangium contains about 32 to 64 dark, walled spores in it. Spore triangular with exine and intine.
Spore germination form prothallus

13. Gametophyte or prothallus
Green, heart shaped with many rhizoids on the under side for absorption
Cells are thin walled with chloroplast and therefore independent
Monoecious or bisexual: Both antheridia and archegonia are present and formed on the under side
Archegonia near the central notch
Antheridia formed near the rhizoids
Water essential for fertilization