The sporophyte (1) of Equisetum produces a terminal strobilus with whorls of hexagonal sporophyll scales. Attached to each scale are sporangia (2) containing homosporous spores. The spores go through meiosis and produced spore tetrads (3). The spore tetrads mature with attached elater tissue necessary to keep the spores air borne (4). They germinate to produce inconspicuous gametophytes (5) that have antheridia (6) and archegonia (7). Fusion occurs and the zygote (8) develops into the sporophyte of the next generation (9).