Vegetative Reproduction

Vegetative propagation of some photosynthetic fern gametophytes is accomplished by continued growth and fragmentation, but this does not spread the gametophyte very far. Some ferns (Vittaria, Grammitis, and the family Hymenophyllaceae) produce specialized filaments, or gemmae, that break off and are carried away by water droplets, wind, or possibly insects or spiders to initiate new colonies.