34 



THE HABIT AND THE HABITAT OF FERNS 



[CH. 



pinnae or pinnules falling away, as in Nephrolepis, PJiotinopteris, or Didy- 

 mochlaeiia. Such cases make clear the necessity of storage of materials for 

 the next season's leaves. The analogy with Flowering Plants in all this is 

 too obvious to need any stressing. 



Fig. 40. Cyathea Schansiu. Crown of leaves, and stem with leaf-scars. 

 S. Brazil. (From Christ, after Wacket.) 



Though the storage-arrangements are a less prominent feature externally 

 in Ferns than in Flowering Plants, they are often very efficient. The cortex 

 and pith of the stem of Ferns are commonly packed with starch, and 

 especially so in the deciduous Ferns such as those named. The quantity of 

 material laid by in the rhizomes of the Bracken led to their being used as a 



