Abstract
Morphological data, chromosome behavior, and occurrence strongly suggest that the Florida fern known as Asplenium plenum arose as a cross (AAB1B2) between a sexual 2x species, A. abscissum (AA), and a “sterile” 3x hybrid, A. curtissii (AB1B2). A mechanism is described whereby such an origin is possible: A. curtissii, among other so‐called “sterile” hybrids, has the ability to produce unreduced spore mother cells capable of becoming spores directly. Such spores are able to form gametophytes with viable sperms and have the potential of producing sporophytes apogamously. It is highly probable that this heretofore overlooked process has operated in the origin of the hybrid fern, A. plenum, and is the first to be reported in the literature.
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