EXERCISE 98 

 VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF THE FERN 



Materials. Entire fern plants, either wild or potted (young plants 

 about six inches high will answer admirably); sections of under- 

 ground stem of fern ; sections of fern leaves. 



Directions for work. Study the fern, as you did the moss, 

 with reference to its equipment for its vegetative work. 



1. How does the fern's equipment for photosynthesis compare 

 with that of moss and alga? with that of flowering plants? 

 Consider ability to rise above competitors, supporting tissue, 

 amount of surface exposed, palisade tissue, intercellular spaces 

 in leaf, and stomata allowing entrance of carbon dioxide. 



2. How does the fern's equipment for securing, transporting, 

 and retaining water compare with that of the other kinds of 

 plants ? Consider roots and root hairs, fibrovascular bundles, 

 epidermis, hairs, cuticle, and veins. 



3. From what you have seen and read regarding the places 

 where ferns grow, their numbers, size, and distribution, what 

 is your opinion of their ability to compete with other plants 

 in the struggle for existence? 



References 



BERGEN and CALDWELL. Practical Botany, pp. 274-280. 

 BERGEN and CALDWELL. Introduction to Botany, pp. 269-273. 



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