Ferns are a species native to many moors and glades and are instantly recognizable plants that we can all spot in a crowded space. Have you ever wondered about how ferns achieve this distinctive look? Then read on to learn more about their life cycle.
Tutorial Video
Step-By-Step Images and Instructions
1.
Begin by taking a black pen, and add a shape almost like a circle with a “bite” taken out of it on the right. Bring the bottom of this down on both sides, and join at the end.
2.
Add another, smaller curved shape inside the top section.
3.
Add smaller circles emerging from this “mouth”.
4.
Use a curved line to separate the top and bottom sections of this shape…
5.
And then add a series of marks and wavy lines all across the head.
6.
Add a curved shape to the bottom right of this, and then add a series of long, thin “tentacles” to the right of this.
7.
Add a curved line to the bottom of this shape…
8.
And then repeat the larger shape below this.
9.
Add more “tentacles” to the bottom of this.
10.
Add another curved line to the bottom.
11.
Bring a curved line up from the top of this, and bring long, thin leaves out on either side. Add a line to the inside of each of these, and a small pointed shape at the top.
12.
Now, add a long, thin oval to the left, and bring a curved line up from the center of this.
13.
Add leaves to either side of this, made of bumpy lines.
14.
Draw a line in the center of each leaf.
15.
Add curved arrows between each of the stages with a red pen.
16.
Use a yellow pen for the shape at the top, and gently shade the leaves of the grown fern.
17.
Use a light green for the edges of the fern leaves, and for the shapes in stages two and three.
18.
Shade the oval at the bottom of the fern in the fourth stage with a brown pen.
19.
Now, label each stage with the relevant labels, from top to bottom “SPORANGIUM”, “MATURE GAMETOPHYTE”, “NEW SPOROPHYTE”, and “MATURE SPOROPHYTE”. Label the whole diagram – “LIFE CYCLE OF A FERN”.
And voila – we have all you need to know about the life cycle of a fern – but why not spend time learning a little more about these amazing plants?
