The Root. Ferns possess roots by which 

 they are fastened to the soil and obtain nutri- 

 ment therefrom. These roots consist entirely 

 of fibres and are said to be fibrous ; they have 

 a more or less rigid wiry texture and, when 

 young, are covered with fine soft downy hairs, 

 termed root-hairs. The roots are borne on the 

 underside of the stem, when the latter is pros- 

 trate or creeping along the ground ; but when 

 the stem is more or less erect, they arise towards 

 its lower end on all sides indifferently and 

 proceed from amongst the bases of the decayed 

 leaves. 



The Stem. The stem forms either an upright 

 or creeping stock. The upright stem is called 

 caudex. [Plate I.-B. Cd.] Though the caudex 

 rises not much above ground in most species, 

 there are some ferns in which it reaches a height 

 of thirty to fifty feet or more and gives a tree-like 

 appearance to the plants. The latter are conse- 

 quently known as Tree-Ferns or Arborescent 

 Ferns. The creeping or prostrate stem is known 

 as the rhizome. [Plate I. -A. Rh.] Parts 

 of the stem not buried in the soil are 

 often covered with hairs or scales and 

 sometimes so thickly as to become quite 

 shaggy. 



