CHAPTER X 

 THE BRACKEN FERN 



125. The Fern Plant (Fig. 50). Many of the ferns are 

 known for the beauty of their leaves, which are the only 

 parts of most ferns that appear above ground. In the tropics 

 there are some tree ferns, which have an upright trunk with a 

 crown of leaves at the top. Of all the ferns, one of the best 

 known is that which is called the brake, the bracken fern, or the 

 eagle fern. Its botanical name is Pteris aquilina. It occurs 

 in open woods and in clear spaces, sometimes growing very 

 abundantly and covering large areas, especially in sandy soil. 

 Its long, slender stem grows horizontally, from a few inches 

 to a foot or more below the surface of the ground. It con- 

 tinues to live and grow slowly for many years. In some 

 parts of the world, this stem is ground and used as food. 



The stem grows at the forward end, which, covered and 

 protected by scales, pushes its way through the soil. The 

 older part of the stem dies as the younger part grows. Now 

 and then the growing point divides ; two buds are so produced, 

 each enclosing one of the two new growing points, and thus 

 the stem branches by forking. Occasionally, also, a bud 

 arises at the base of a very young leaf and grows into a 

 branch of the stem. When the dying region of the stem 

 reaches a point at which branching has occurred, the two forks 

 (or main stem and branch) of course become independent 

 plants. Thus the number of plants is increased. From the 

 upper side of the stem, leaves grow upward ; one or more 

 leaves of the present year are to be found attached near 

 the growing end of the stem as well as near that of each 



97 



