Under the standard temperature and light conditions, C-Fern develops in about 10-12 days from a single-celled haploid spore to sexually mature gametophytes in which eggs are fertilized by sperm. Mature spores are produced by about 80-90 DFS.

Most activities use the wild type C–Fern (RNWT1) spores also known as the C–Fern Standard genotype . Other strains derived from the wild type are useful for investigations in development, genetics, physiology, and ecology. Below is a listing of possible available strains and a brief description.

Both C-Fern gametophytes and sporophytes are easy to culture in the classroom or in a research environment can be axenically cultured on simple inorganic media in petri dishes. Because they are free-living and autotrophic, easy and foolproof culture techniques allow both gametophytes and sporophytes to be conveniently cultured and manipulated with minimal training and equipment. These procedures comprise a valuable introduction to general sterile technique that can then be applied to more demanding plant or animal cell culture.

You can find out more about using C-Fern in the classroom, from laboratory investigations to student initiated and directed research and for all levels of other research by using this site.

To purchase C-Fern spores, growing supplies and other products, please contact a C-Fern vendor.