A water medium is necessary for fertilization in ferns.
Fertilization is the process by which male and female gametes combine to form a zygote, which develops into a new individual. In ferns, the male gametes are produced in the antheridia and the female gametes are produced in the archegonia. In order for fertilization to occur, the male gametes need to swim through a water medium to reach the female gametes, which are protected inside the archegonia. This is why ferns require a water medium, such as rain or dew, for their reproduction.
Fungi, conifers, and angiosperms do not require a water medium for fertilization. Fungi reproduce asexually or sexually through the fusion of hyphae, the thread-like structures that make up their body. Conifers and angiosperms are both seed-producing plants that use pollen to transfer male gametes to female gametes. The pollen is carried by wind or animals, such as bees or birds, and does not require a water medium for fertilization.