THE OSMUNDAS 



flowering fern, loves the water. The uncoiling fronds 

 have dark-red stipes and reddish-green or pinkish 

 blades. As these uncurl, 

 the bright green spore 

 cases may be seen peep- 

 ing through the leaflets, 

 which clasp them closely. 



Notice in the picture 

 how different the leaves 

 are from those of other 

 ferns. They grow very 

 tall, often reaching a 

 height of six feet. All 

 the fronds are alike ex- 

 cept that spores are 

 borne on the upper part 

 of some of them. This 

 fruiting part at the end 

 of the frond looks some- 

 what like a bunch of 

 small flowers. Like the 

 other Osmundas, the 

 spores are a bright green 

 until they ripen. 



In all the Osmundas 

 the buds for several 



years to come are found nestling in the midst of the 

 circle of fronds. This central part is called the heart 



43 



The Flowering Fern. 



