THE ROYAL FERN. 



leaflets. These leaflets are oblong in shape, with 

 broadish bases and obtuse points. In the centre 

 of the base of each leaflet there is a slight hollow 

 corresponding with the line of its mid- vein, the 

 continuation of which forms a stem so short, how- 

 ever, as to be scarcely perceptible without close 

 inspection, but forming a connecting link with 

 the stem of the branch. If you hold the frond 

 of the Osrnunda against the light and look 

 through the leaflets, you will see a really beauti- 

 ful arrangement of veins. There are two kinds 

 of fronds in the Flowering Fern barren and fer- 

 tile. It is the barren frond which we have been 

 describing. In the fertile frond the lower portion 

 is similar to the barren frond, but in the upper 

 portion the leaflets are contracted, and bear on 

 their backs dense clusters of seed-cases. At first 

 green, these seed- cases gradually become light 

 brown in colour, and then they almost com- 

 pletely hide the contracted leaflets on which they 

 are borne. At this stage they have somewhat 

 the appearance of a flower at the top of the 

 frond; thus giving some reason for the name 

 which has been affixed to this species. In 



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