THE FBRNS. 



139 



little masses of granules, of defined forms, termed aori, and consist of a containing organ 

 called sporangia, theca, or capsules, surrounded by a ring (gyrus, or annulus], and a 



Fig. 267. 



Fig. 266. 



Fi?. 266. A Fern, Polypodium Vulgare, as it grows in our climate. 

 Fig. 267. Fructification in the Polypodium. 

 Fig. 268. Sori emitting spores. 



number of contained cells, termed spores or sporules, from which new plants are directly 

 produced. Thus the organs of fructification may be likened to the ovary with its con- 

 tained seeds, and doubtless this is their true analogy ; but to the naked eye they have 

 a greater semblance to the anther with their contained 

 cellular specks of pollen; and this latter idea is further 

 strengthened by the fact that the spores, as well as the 

 pollen, are produced on and from the cells of leaves. The 

 sporangia burst with elasticity ; but this property is pos- 

 sessed alike by both anther and ovary. There can be 

 no reasonable doubt but that they are the female organs 

 or ovaries, with the spores or seeds. 



There is much difliculty in determining what are the 

 male organs, if any, existing in Ferns. Some have 

 referred them to the articulated hairs which are found sur- 

 Fir. 269.-The fructification of rounding the sporangia; and others again have imagined 

 the Ophioglossum Vul^atum, that the layer of epidermis which covers the sporangia in 

 showing the transverse i lits, a. ^^ ^^ ^^ indusiuni) may be connected with that 



function. Nothing certain, however, is known. 



