Sporophyte

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sporophyte

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ploidy level?The sporophyte is the diploid (2n) phase of the plant life cycle
2. What is the primary function?Production of haploid spores through meiosis
3. How does a sporophyte make new plants?The sporophyte creates spores by a special cell division called meiosis. These spores are tiny and can travel by wind or water to start new plants.
4. Why are sporophytes usually bigger than gametophytes?Sporophytes are usually bigger because they have more cells and can survive tough conditions. Their larger size also lets them produce many spores.

Alternation of Generations: The life cycle of plants, involving a diploid sporophyte and a haploid gametophyte phase.
Sporogenesis: The process of spore formation within the sporangia of a sporophyte.
Sporocyte: A diploid cell within a sporangium that undergoes meiosis to form spores.
Sporophyll: A modified leaf that bears sporangia, characteristic of the sporophyte generation.