Question

What is heterospory? Explain with examples.

Answer 1

Hetrospory:  Plants of the same species producing two types of spores i.e. microspores and megaspores.

All Angiosperms and Gymnosperms are heterosporous.

They produce microspores within microsporangia and megaspores within megasporangia.

Some Pteridophytes like Selaginella, Isoetes, Azolla, Marsilea etc. are also heterosporous.

Answer 2

The production of two different types of spores in the same species is known as the heterospory. That is two different sized spores are produced the small sized spores are known as the microspores and the larger sized spores known as the mega spores.