AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The prothallus is the fern gametophyte. It is a green, photosynthetic structure that is one cell thick, usually heart or kidney shaped, 3–10 mm long and 2–8 mm broad. It is very difficult to find in the bush as it is so tiny.

Detailed explanation-2: -Fern prothalli are small, green, often heart-shaped, and bear the archegonia and antheridia where the egg and sperm are produced, respectively. This is the gametophyte generation of ferns and is completely independent of the sporophyte generation.

Detailed explanation-3: -A prothallus, or prothallium, (from Latin pro = forwards and Greek (thallos) = twig) is usually the gametophyte stage in the life of a fern or other pteridophyte. Occasionally the term is also used to describe the young gametophyte of a liverwort or peat moss as well.

Detailed explanation-4: -The gametophyte generation includes the phase of the life cycle between the formation of spores by meiosis and fertilization and formation of the zygote.

Detailed explanation-5: -prothallium, the small, green, heart-shaped structure (gametophyte) of a fern that produces both male and female sex cells (gametes).