Describe the structure of a fern plant

Explanation: Ferns have 3 major parts - the rhizome, the fronds and the reproductive structures called sporangia. The characteristics of each of these 3 parts of the fern plant are used for classification and identification.

The rhizome is the stem of the fern plant. It comes in 3 basic forms:

An erect rhizome, which is a solid mass that gives rise to a tuft of fronds. You can see this type of rhizome on a king fern or a crown fern.

A laterally growing rhizome that creeps along or under the ground. It may even climb up a tree. Hound's tongue and thread ferns are examples of a fern with a creeping rhizome.

A vertical rhizome. This can grow into a short or a tall trunk. The trunk of the ponga (silver fern) is a vertical rhizome.

There are three major parts of a fern. The rhizome, the fronds and the reproductive structures called sporangia