We used light microscopy to observe the spore germination and gametophytic development of two species belonging to Tectaria:Tectaria decurrens (Presl) Cop.and T.fauriei Tagawa.The characteristics of each gametophytic development stage were recorded.Both T.decurrens and T.fauriei had the following characteristics in common:(1)The spores are monolete,kidney-shaped or fabiform in equatorial view and elliptical in polar view,and the surface is formed by perispore.(2)The germination pattern is of the Centripetal.(3)The developmental pattern of the prothallus is of the Aspidium-type.(4)Adult prothallium is cordate-thalloid and the wings extend obliquely upward.(5)The gametophytes have unicellular and miulticellular hairs,which appear in filaments or thalli stages.The Tectaria is a more evolved terrestrial fern according to gametophytic development;The type,location and timing of appearance of hairs differ in Tectaria.