Alternation of generations

Alternation of generations is something plants do. When plants reproduce, their bodies go through different stages at different times. In between the stages, plants have different kinds of body shapes, which are called generations. For example, one generation might be a plant with a stem and leaves, and then the next generation could be a tiny plant that looks like a little ball. Then the next generation would be the same kind of plant with a stem and leaves again, and then back to the little ball. This cycle of going from one different body shape to another, then back again, is called alternation of generations.