| Fern gametes are free-swimming and a thin film of water is required for the male gametes to travel from the antheridia into the neck of the archcgonia to fertilize the eggs. |
| Meiosis occurs just before mating in well-differentiated oogonia and antheridia. |
| Numerous antherozoids are produced in the antheridia and they swim through the covering film of water to reach the archegonia, each of which contains a single egg cell. |
| Each antheridial chamber incorporates several antheridia, all of which are developed from one antheridial initial. |
| On their release from the antheridia, the antherozoids must then swim through surface water to fertilize neighbouring egg cells. |
| The parent also contains antheridia which produce sperm and an oogonium which produces the egg. |
