60 THE FROND. PART I. 



SECTION V. 



The Frond, 



As applied THE frond, which is to be regarded as a com- 

 ms ' pound of several of the parts already described, 

 consists of an union or incorporation of the leaf, leaf- 

 stalk, and branch or stem, forming as it were but 

 one organ, of which the constituent parts do not 

 separate spontaneously from one another by means 

 of the fracture of any natural joint as in the case 

 of plants in general, but adhere together even in 

 their decay. Like the stipe, it is peculiar only to 

 Palms, at least as applicable to perfect plants, and 

 is sometimes pinnate, as in Zamia integrifolia 

 (PL II. Fig. 16.), sometimes doubly pinnate, and 

 sometimes fan-shaped and plaited, as in Chamcerops 

 humilis and Rophis flab dti for mis. 



It seems indeed, as well as the term stipe, to be 

 going into disuse as applied to palms, and conse- 

 quently as applied to the division of plants now 

 under consideration. But as it was originally ap- 

 plied by Linnaeus to the natural family of Palms, 

 whose mode of leafing is singular and well describ- 

 ed by the frond, I have thought it worthy of a place 

 in this part of the book. 



Does not the herbage of Cactus Opuntia consti- 

 tute a frond r 



