470 THE FEEN FAMILT. 



"fructification;" while the seeds, being formed differently from those 

 of flowering plants, and without distinct embryo and cotyledons, arc 

 termed " spores." 



The Ferns hold the first rank among the flowerless plants, on account 

 of their comparatively high organization, which in some particulars 

 agrees with that of Exogens. They have distinct roots ; frequently a 

 large and thick rhizome or root-stock, which often lies \ipon the surface 

 of the ground ; and elevated from this latter, a kiud of stem, bearing 

 beautiful foliage, the thin parts of which, on being held between the 

 eye and the light, are found to be traversed by delicate veins, though 

 generally forked and never re-uniting, instead of interlaced, as in Exo- 

 gens. (Fig. 205.) The foliage serves a twofold purpose. It corresponds at 

 once to the leaves of flowering plants, and to their twigs and peduncles. 

 Every "fern-leaf" or "fern-branch," or whatever else it may be 

 popularly called, is, in reality, the amalgamation into a single body of 

 what in Exogens is broken up into three or four distinct organs, 

 and distinguished by as many different names. Botanists term it a 

 " frond," — a term intended to signify that it comprises within itself 

 both stalk and leaf, peduncles, and seats of fructification. The 

 main stalk of the frond is termed the '■^ rachis." This latter part 

 is very often clothed with light-brown scales, which seem to be 

 in ferns what hairs and down are to other plants. The scales are even 

 more remarkable in the rootstocks, making them resemble caterpillars 

 and the hairy feet of the smaller quadrupeds. The rachis is in most 

 ferns erect, or elegantly arched backwards, but sometimes, as in the 

 Lygodium, it twines like a scarlet-bean. 



The green and leafy portion of the frond is either quite simple, or 

 much branched, and deeply cleft and lobed, the divisions being often 

 doubly and triply pinnatifid. It also varies immensely in general 

 outline, surface, and edge. In describing these conditions, it is cus- 

 tomary to borrow the terms applied to the leaves of flowering plants. 

 Some species are extremely prone to divide and branch in a sccondaiy 

 degree, ferns growing as it were upon ferns. This happens remarkably 

 in the hart's-tonguc, and very strikingly in fronds of the ostrich- 

 feather type, the margins and tips of which are often most curiously 

 dilated and fringed, forming beautiful crispy tassels. There are few 

 indeed that do not at times assume the forked or "bifid" condition. 



In height, the ferns generally rise to one or two feet, but there are 

 many which are much taller, while others arc only a few inches out of 



