The production of the octet baryons in ep collisions is analyzed based on a
n SU(3) model for quark fragmentation into octet baryons. A good fit to cur
rently available data on Lambda production in ep scattering is obtained. Th
e model is extended to include polarization effects and all polarized fragm
entation functions Delta D-q(h)(z, Q(2)) describing the polarized fragmenta
tion into members of the baryon octet are expressed in terms of three SU(3)
symmetric functions Delta alpha(z, Q(2)), Delta beta(z, Q(2)), and Delta g
amma(z, Q(2)) and an SU(3) breaking parameter lambda. From suitable compari
sons with Lambda polarization data in e(+)e(-) annihilations at the Z pole,
Delta alpha(z, Q(2)) has been extracted. The fragmentation functions are t
hen evolved using leading order polarized evolution equations and the polar
ization of Lambda in e(+)e(-) and ep reactions has been predicted. [S0556-2
821(99)08509-4].