40 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



are fully expanded by Midsummer. During 

 September they turn a beautiful golden brown 

 and finally die altogether, although the leaves 

 do not decay quickly. The Bracken is, of course, 

 a very strong-growing perennial, and the plant 

 has a wonderful system of underground rhi- 

 zomes. In a strong-growing specimen these 

 rhizomes may be as thick as a finger and are 

 very succulent. They are of a jet-black colour, 

 and at the base of each frond there are sent out 

 a quantity of fibrous roots. The fronds arise 

 from either side of the rhizome, and often not 

 more than one or two are developed in a single 

 season. By examining the rhizome it is 

 possible to discover the buds containing the new 

 fronds for two years ahead. 



The fronds of the Bracken Fern are roughly 

 triangular in outline. That portion of the 

 stipes which is under ground is of a dark brown 

 colour, but the portion above the surface is of a 

 bright green tint. The rachis, or foliage-bearing 

 portion of the stalk, represents about half of the 

 whole. On either side of the rachis the pinnae 

 are arranged in pairs, which are placed nearly 

 but not quite opposite to one another. These 

 pinnae are divided again, and in very large 

 examples there may be a further subdivision. 

 In all the parts of the frond of the Bracken there 

 is a tendency for less division at the apices of 

 the different portions. It should be noted that 

 the lowest pairs of pinnules, those next to the 

 rachis, are often much modified ; they are always 

 small, and in some cases the upper pinnules are 

 missing. 



It is along the margins of the lobes of the leaf 

 that the sporangia are produced. There is no 

 proper indusium, the spore cases being pro- 

 tected by the rolling back of the margin of the 



