FERNS 



stand erect. In the fall the stipes get weak at the 

 base, and the fronds bend over to the ground. 



The fruit dots of this fern are on the margin of the 

 leaflets. See how close to the edge they cling. Often 

 they look as if pushing out beyond it. Because of this 

 the plant is sometimes called the marginal shield fern. 

 When the fruit dots are young, they are hidden by a 

 white or gray covering. This does not wither as soon 

 as it does in most ferns. 



This is an American fern. It is found from Canada 

 southward to Alabama and Georgia. 



FERNS IN STONE AND COAL 



IF you were to visit some of the coal mines of our 

 country, you might find pieces of coal upon which 

 there were very distinct fern-leaf shapes. These same 

 forms are often seen upon stones that are taken out 

 of quarries. They are called fossils. Here is a picture 

 of a piece of stone that has some of these plant forms. 

 You can see that none of the fronds are perfect. Very 

 seldom is an unbroken leaf found. 



How do you suppose that ferns got inside of these 

 masses of coal and rock? Men have learned that coal 

 is made up of plant material. From this, they know 

 that coal beds are not like other rocks; but 'that at 

 some time there was a mass of plant life here. As 



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