A bryologist (a scientist that studies mosses, and their allies) gives a lecture to your biology class. In her lecture, she makes a reference to fern reproduction. She says, "Fern spores germinate into ___.

Gametophytes

Explanation:

Ferns sare known or described as group of plants which are referred to as the vascular plants. Vascular plants are the plants that possess both xylem and phloem.  Xylem is used by the plants to transport water while the phloem is responsible for the transportation of food.

The fern is known to be reproducing through the production of spores. The spores produced later on develop to gametophyte.

The gametophyte is known to be the sexual phase of the life cycle of plants and algae inclusive. It is known to occur in the stage of mitosis for the production or making of haploid gametes.

Ferns spp are considered to be beneficial, especially to man. For example,  lady fan can be used to stop blood vomiting, likewise , the Hay-scented and sensitive ferns which are used for lung hemorrhage and blood disorder respectively.

protist eukaryotes that are not plants, animals, or fungi ("misfits")