The Frond. The leaves of ferns consist of 

 two parts (i) the leafy portion which is termed 

 the frond and (2) the stalk which is called the 

 stipe. [Plate I.-B. St.] When the stipe is want- 

 ing the frond is said to be sessile. The fronds of 

 ferns are either barren or fertile. As a rule the 

 latter differ scarcely from the former. Sometimes 

 they vary greatly, the barren ones presenting 

 the ordinary leafy appearance, the fertile being 

 contracted often to such an extent that the 

 leafy part is entirely absent. 



The young fronds of ferns (except the Ophio- 

 glossacece] present a very characteristic appear- 

 ance, the upper portion being coiled inwards 

 like a watch spring, and as growth proceeds the 

 coils unwind. Hence the fronds of ferns are 

 said to be circmate (Lat. Circino, I turn round) 

 in bud. 



Fronds vary much in size, some kinds being 

 less than one inch, whilst others fifteen to 

 twenty feet long. 



Fronds are either simple or compound. The 

 simple frond is one which consists of one 

 piece even though it is cut into lobes or 

 segments. 



The compound frond is one which consists 

 of two or more pieces, each of which may be 



