Organism
3                                                                

Field Notes: Specimen collected from shaded area along stream in
South Cumberland State Park    
           
         (Grundy
County, TN).

Laboratory Analysis:

           
Body: Large leaves emerging from underground rhizome.

           
Size:     63 cm

           
Chromosomal Analysis: Plant body is diploid—chromosome
number of 44.

           
Lignin test: Positive

           
Cuticle: Present

           
Leaves: Present—large with branched veins. Underside has
sori (containing haploid spores).

           
Roots: Present—branch from the inside.

           
Stem:    Present—vascular tissue (xylem &
phloem) present.

                                   
.

Life History: Diploid sporophyte dominant generation. Haploid
spores germinate into heart-shaped,

           
          
haploid,
          
gametophyte. Water required for fertilization due to flagellated
sperm; no seed is
           
           produced.
Diploid zygote develops into sporophyte.

.          
   

Tentative
Classification:                     
Domain:         
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Kingdom:        
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Phylum:          
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Communication: The local media features the work of your team on
their nightly news. During a live interview the reporter asks you
“Apparently this plant requires water for fertilization, can you
explain why?”

Response: