CH. IX] OF PTERIS. 121 



Physiologically the manner of life of the fern is similar 

 to that of such flowering plants as pseonies, larkspurs, 

 columbines and other garden perennials, as well as bulb- 

 plants, tulips, daffodils, &c. It is a manner of life especial- 

 ly well adapted to withstand severity of climate for the 

 perennial stock is hidden away underground safe from 

 frost and drought. 



The rhizome of Pteris is shown in fig. 52, it is a 

 rough looking, irregularly branching stem which grows 



G ~ 



Fm. 52. 



HORIZONTAL UNDERGROUND STEM OR KHIZOME OF Pteris. 

 G, the growing point ; L lt a developing leaf ; L 2 , the leaf of 



the current year ; L 3 , a decayed leaf of the previous year. 



The rhizome bears adventitious roots ; from L 2 a young rhizome B 

 is growing. 



more or less horizontally. It ends in a conical point, 

 the growing point, which resembles the growing point of 



