Wayside, Seaside, and Rock Ferns 



CHAPTER III 



FERNS OF THE WAYSIDE AND SEASIDE ROCKS AND 

 WALLS 



IN this and the three following chapters we shall visit 

 the ferns in their homes. When there, we shall note 

 how the leaves or fronds are cut or divided, and how 

 the sori are arranged, whether on the backs or edges of 

 the frond, whether covered by indusia or not, and 

 whether borne on special fronds or on the ordinary leafy 

 ones. We must do so if we wish to know the names 

 of ferns, because the leaf divisions and the arrange- 

 ment of the sori are the chief guides on which we rely 

 when we set out to identify ferns. As most ferns have 

 their sori arranged on the backs and not at the edges of 

 the fronds, we shall assume in our descriptions that the 

 sori are dorsal (placed on the back) unless otherwise 

 stated. Similarly, we shall assume that the sori are set 

 on the ordinary leafy fronds, unless attention is called 

 to the contrary. To make our study of ferns more 

 interesting we shall recall many of the old beliefs that 

 our ancestors held regarding these beautiful plants, 

 We shall call first on those ferns which grow in the 

 crannies of walls and rocks by the wayside and by the 

 seaside. Of course, there are rocks and walls to be found 

 in woods and in mountainous districts, but we shall 

 postpone making the acquaintance of the ferns which 

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