FKONDS. 9 



upright mode of growth; but it never becomes apparent, ex- 

 cept in the case of very aged plants. 



The leaves of Ferns are generally called fronds, and as 

 this latter term is much the more appropriate, we shall 

 henceforward adopt it, with this general explanation, that it 

 means the leaf-like organs which are borne on the proper 

 stem. The leaf-like character they bear has led some per- 

 sons to reject the term frond altogether, and to consider them 

 as true leaves ; but since they grow by development from 

 their apex, which botanists say leaves do not, and since they 

 produce, from some part of their surface, what in their case 

 stands in the place of flowers, there is no more reason why 

 they should be called leaves, than should the leaf-like 

 stems of Cactuses, or of the curious hot-house plants called 

 Xylophylla, each of which afford examples of plants bearing 

 flowers on what appear to be leaves, but which are in reality 

 stems. The frond or leafy part of a Fern is, however, not to 

 be classed among stems ; and hence, since it is of interme- 

 diate character between a leaf and a stem, the distinctive 

 name of frond seems to be conveniently applied to it. 



As there are no proper flowers produced by the Ferns, it 

 is in the fronds that we must seek for that ornamental 

 aspect which renders them such general favourites. The 

 fronds alone, however, afford almost endless variety. In 

 some cases they are very large, in others very small ;_ some 

 are quite simple and not at all divided, others are divided 

 almost beyond computation into little portions or segments, 

 and it is these much-divided fronds which, generally speak- 

 ing, are the most elegant. 



Even in the few species which are natives of Britain, this 

 variety of size and form is very obvious, some kinds not 

 being more than two or three inches, while others are from 

 five to six feet or more in height ; some are quite simple, and 

 others are cut into innumerable small segments. There is 

 much variety of texture too ; some being thin and delicate, 

 almost transparent, others thick and leathery, and some per- 

 fectly rigid. There is again variety of colour ; some are pale 

 green, some are deep green, some are blue-green, some dark 

 brownish, scarcely green at all ; some are smooth and shining, 

 others opaque ; and some few are covered with hair-like 

 scales. 



The duration of the fronds of many species is compara- 

 tively short ; they come up in spring, and in some cases the 

 earliest of them do not last till autumn ; in others they con- 

 tinue until touched by frost, from which the more robust of 



