Final answer:
The conspicuous green parts of ferns that you frequently encounter in the woods are indeed the sporophyte stage. This diploid form is the dominant and visible part of the fern's life cycle, as opposed to the smaller, less noticeable haploid gametophyte stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you see the green parts of ferns in the woods, you are mostly observing the sporophyte stage. This statement is true. The sporophyte is the diploid form in the life cycle of the fern and is dominant. Ferns release spores from sporangia located on the undersides of their leaves. These spores germinate into heart-shaped gametophytes, which are haploid. Unlike in bryophytes like mosses, where the gametophyte is more conspicuous, in ferns it is the sporophyte that is larger and more easily recognized. The cycle continues with the gametophyte producing gametes, and fertilization results in a zygote that will grow into a new sporophyte.
The life cycle of higher plants including ferns is dominated by the sporophyte, and it’s this leafy, green stage that we are familiar with. In contrast, the gametophyte is smaller and not as readily observed in the life cycle stages you might encounter during a walk in the woods.