Final answer:
The claim that ferns can only reproduce when it's dry is false. Ferns require moisture for the sperm to swim to the egg for fertilization. Their life cycle involves alternation of generations with a dominant sporophyte stage and a smaller gametophyte stage that needs moisture to facilitate reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Ferns can only reproduce when it's dry' is false. While it is true that fern spores can tolerate desiccation and extreme conditions, the actual process of fern reproduction requires moisture. Ferns, which display an alternation of generations in their life cycle, produce haploid spores in specialized structures called sporangia. When these spores land in a suitable moist environment, they grow into heart-shaped gametophytes. Gametophytes contain both antheridia (male) and archegonia (female) reproductive structures. Fertilization occurs when sperm, produced by the antheridia, swim to an egg inside the archegonia. Subsequently, a zygote forms and develops into a new sporophyte, which will create fronds and eventually produce its own sporangia to complete the cycle.