CHAPTER IV 
LIFE HISTORY OF THE MALE FERN [AN 
INTERMEDIATE TYPE OF PLANT] 
The Male Fern (Dryopteris Filix-mas) has long been known to 
the pharmaceutical and medical professions as the source of the 
drug Aspmrum, a most valuable remedy for the expulsion of 
tapeworm. ‘The parts of the plant employed are the rhizome 
and stipes which are collected in autumn, freed of the roots and 
dead portions and dried at a temperature not exceeding riims OF 
Alike with other ferns, the Male Fern shows two phases or 
generations in its life cycle. The first of these is that which is 
represented by the more conspicuous plant which we call “‘the 
fern.” It is in this phase that the spores or asexual cells are 
produced, hence the plant producing them is called the SPORO- 
PHYTE (spore-bearing plant). The second phase is that which is 
represented in the development of an inconspicuous, tiny heart- 
shaped body which occurs on the surface of woodland soil and 
which bears the sexual organs in which sexual cells or gametes 
are produced. This phase is called the GAMETOPHYTE or sexual 
generation. 
History OF THE SPOROPHYTE OR ASEXUAL GENERATION 
Gross STRUCTURE OF STEM.—The main axis of Dryopteris 
Filix-mas is the creeping underground stem or RuIzoMeE which is 
oblique or ascending in habit. It gives off numerous Roots from 
its lower and posterior portions and Leaves from its upper and 
anterior portions. The leaves of a fern are called FRonps. 
Behind the fronds of the present year are to be noted the per- 
sistent stalk bases of fronds of previous seasons. ‘The roots are 
slender, brown and fibrous with semi-transparent tips. They 
are inserted on the bases of the fronds, close to their junction 
with the stem. The growing end of the rhizome is called the 
ANTERIOR ExtTReEmITy and is marked by the presence of an APICAL 
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