132 



NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



III. SPORES 



Spore in spore case con- 

 tains germ of new fern; 

 produces fern prothal- 

 lium ; gives birth to em- 

 bryo fern plant. 



Germinate 



or 

 on 



[rotting wood. 



Produce new fern. 

 Inferior to a seed. 



^ ^ 



SPORES ON FRONDS 



IV. PRACTICAL WORK OR APPLICATION 



III. Provide each child with a frond 

 and let the pupils cut off spore cases and 

 examine them. Each spore case contains 

 many tiny spores. Spores ripen and fern 

 substance pushes through grows into 

 tiny heart-shaped bit of tissue. (Draw on 

 blackboard.) 



Young fern grows from a proihallium. 



Explain briefly formation of embryo 

 fern. One leaf rises above ground, while 

 root strikes down into soil. 



Gardeners raise thousands of these 

 plants from spores yearly. 



Show tiny ferns thus grown. Compare 

 arrangement of spores of maidenhair 

 with spores of bracken. Show both. 

 Note same on edge of leaflet others 

 along midrib. 



PROTHALLUS OF FERN 



IV. 1. Let children gather fronds. 

 Compare setting of spores. Press and 

 draw fronds. 



These ferns can easily be found by 

 children in near-by woods. I have never 

 had any difficulty in getting pupils to 

 bring specimens. 



2. Have class visit fernery in Botanical 

 Gardens at Prospect Park or Bronx Park 

 and write about what they have seen. 



