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A sporophyll is a leaf that bears sporangia. Both microphylls and megaphylls can be sporophylls. In heterosporous plants, sporophylls (whether they are microphylls or megaphylls) bear either megasporangia (and thus are called megasporophylls), or microsporangia (microsporophylls). The overlap of the prefixes and roots makes these terms a particularly confusing subset of botanical nomenclature.



Lycophytes, where sporophylls may be aggregated into strobili (Selaginella and some Lycopodium and related genera) or distributed singly among sterile leaves (Huperzia and segregate genera). Sporangia are distinctively borne in the axil or on the adaxial surface of the sporophyll. In heterosporous members, megasporophylls and microsporophylls may be intermixed or separated in a variety of patterns.



Gingko produces microsporophylls aggregated into a pollen strobilus. Ovules are not born on sporophylls.





Gnetophytes produce both compound pollen and seed strobili.

