Fern plants. Like all other vascular plants, the diploid sporophyte is the dominant phase or generation in the life cycle. The gametophytes of ferns, however, are very different from those of seed plants. They are free-living and resemble liverworts, whereas those of seed plants develop within the spore wall and are dependent on the parent sporophyte for their nutrition. A fern gametophyte typically consists of: Ferns first appear in the fossil record in the early Carboniferous period. By the Triassic, the first evidence of ferns related to several modern families appeared. The great fern radiation occurred in the late Cretaceous, when
Rube Ferns down Ferns with terrific body blows, and right and left swings to the head. To save Ferns from being completely knocked out, Referee McBride stopped the bout." The Richmond Dispatch, running the same story, continued, "In the fifth and last round Walcott sent Ferns to the boards on two occasions, and Rube twice took the count. When he rose the second time, he was in a weakened condition." The bout was described as "the fastest and fiercest ever fought in the new club-house." Ferns continued boxing until around 1910 and took on some high-profile contenders, including three more bouts with