48 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



the crown of the plant, whilst at the base of 

 the stalks occur the fibrous roots. Within the 

 circle of the developed leaves we may find 

 the immature fronds ; the least advanced of 

 these may not develop for three years. The 

 crown of the plant, as well as the stipes and 

 the rachis, are more or less covered with brown 

 scales. The length of the fronds of the Male 

 Fern vary enormously. In a favourable situa- 

 tion the leaves may measure as much as three 

 feet or more, though an average example 

 would be a good deal less than this. A well- 

 developed plant should show six or more 

 finely developed fronds arranged cup-fashion 

 round the central stem. The shape of the 

 leaf of the Male Fern is roughly lanceolate, 

 broadest in the middle and tapering at each 

 end. The frond is bi-pinnate, and the pinnae 

 are long and taper to a fine point. The pinnules 

 are rather blunt, and frequently show serrated 

 edges. The upper portion of the frond is 

 pinnatifid, and in many of the higher pinnae 

 it is only the pinnules nearest to the rachis 

 that are distinct. 



Practically all the fronds are fertile, though 

 the son occur chiefly on the upper portions of 

 the leaves. The brown patches are to be 

 found arranged in a single line on either side 

 of the central vein of the pinnules. The sorus 

 is circular and is covered with an indusium 

 which is notched or kidney-shaped. In the 

 early days the indusium is of a lead colour, 

 but as the sporangia ripen underneath the 

 brown colouring shows through the thin 

 covering. The foliage of the Male Fern is of 

 a bright green tint, changing to a duller shade 

 as the leaves become older. Not uncommonly 

 the fronds last in good condition through a 



