The alternative generation of a pteridophyte is the alternation of generations between the sporophyte and the gametophyte. In pteridophytes (ferns, horsetails, and clubmosses), the sporophyte is the dominant and visible phase of the life cycle. It is the leafy, vascular plant that produces spores through meiosis. The spores develop into gametophytes, which are small, independent, and often inconspicuous. The gametophytes produce gametes (sperm and eggs) through mitosis. Fertilization occurs when sperm from the gametophyte fertilizes an egg, leading to the development of a new sporophyte plant. This alternation between sporophyte and gametophyte generations is a characteristic feature of the plant life cycle and is often referred to as the "alternation of generations."
