An increasingly intricate relationship exists between the gametophyte and sporophyte generations in vascular plants. As vascular plants live longer, they increase in size and complexity and the generation becomes dominant, while the generation becomes smaller and of shorter duration.

Sporophyte and gametophyte generations of vascular plants are quite distinct from each other with respect to their shape and size. The gametophyte generation produces gametes while the saprophyte produces spores. In conifers and angiosperms, the sporophyte is diploid and more conspicuous. It is the dominant generation in these vascular plants and includes the roots, stem, and leaves of the plant body. The gametophyte generation is small and inconspicuous in higher plants. For example, the microscopic pollen grains of angiosperms carry the haploid male gametophyte.

On the other hand, the sporophyte of ferns consists of rhizome, fronds and true roots. Although sporophyte is a dominant generation in ferns, the haploid gametophyte also persists for a longer period and immature sporophyte is attached to and dependent on the gametophyte until the embryo matures.