8 WHERE TO FIND FERNS. 



lunarid). To get this figure, which is life-size, into our 

 page, it is shown in two parts, the roots and part of the 

 stem or stipes on the right-hand side, and the remainder 

 'of the stem (from the point of severance) and the barren 

 and fertile fronds on the left-hand side. 



The stems of ferns are of two principal kinds. The 

 one kind is ordinarily called a caudex or wrmus, the 

 other a rhizoma. Strictly speaking, the caudex simply 

 means the stem, of whatever kind. Many persons 

 erroneously regard that part of a stem which is wholly 

 or partially buried in the earth as a root. As even 

 botanists give various and conflicting definitions of the 

 parts of plants which are either roots or stems, it will be 

 desirable, in this place, to make it clear in what sense 

 the terms employed in the following chapters are used 

 in relation to ferns. 



When roots are referred to, it will be understood that 

 the expression has reference, solely, to the fibrous under- 

 ground parts of ferns, such as that shown in the figure 

 of the Scaly Spleenwort (page 6). 



The rootstock is the basal part of the stem from which, 

 growing downwards, the roots spring. The upper part 

 of the stem is called the crown. From this arise the 

 leafy parts of ferns. 



If the stem be more or less globular, bulb-shaped, 

 and erect in habit, it is said to be a cormus. If it lies or 

 creeps horizontally upon, or underneath, the soil, it is 

 called a rhizoma. 



The form and appearance of the rhizoma are shown 

 in the figure, on page 9, of that very beautiful fern, 

 the European Bristle Fern (Trichomanes radicans). 



In this figure the creeping stem is distinctly indicated, 

 with its fibrous rootlets, together with one completely 

 expanded, and three unrolling fronds underneath. The 

 rhizoma, as the illustration also shows, is clothed with 

 dark-coloured hair or down. 



Few of our native ferns have stems which rise more 



