2 24 



FKI{X-F!,()I{A Ul- CANADA. 



THE FERN FROND; ITS PARTS; THE STIPE OR STALK; THE 

 LAMINA OR LEAFY PORTION ; DIVISION AND CUTTING OF THE 

 LAMINA ; FRUIT DOTS ; THE RACHIS ; VEINING, 



Fioin ilic iii(lic;itioiis ^nv('i), it will Ix; seen that the priiu;i|>.il Organs oi our 

 fern plants arc: (1) tlu; (mostly) hoii/nutal I{hi::<niip, with its, oftfui wiry, 

 toituous, descending roc.t-lihics, prodnccd nut only from its posterior extremity, 

 but often also emergent along its course from the matting of more or less decayed 

 stipe-stnhs ; (•_') tlu; FroiiJ, or leaf, which, as in oidinary leaves, (tonsists of two 

 parts, — the >^tif)i' or stalk (coii'es| onding to the petiole of ilowcring plants), and 

 the f.niinnn or leafy poition, which, in a few cases is simple ur undivided, but in 

 most ferns is much divided, and in various ways in the dillerent groups. 



The Lamina. — The Lainiitd may he moie or less deeply cut or cleft fnjm the 

 innrgin.s towards the liarhis or midrib, when it is said to be Piniiafi/i'f. When 

 the clefts are ct)mpiete so as to reach the rachi.s, and divide the lamiuii into separ- 

 ate leaflets, arranged featherdike in pairs or alternately, on either side of the 

 rachis, the hunina is said to he P-iniafr, and the leaflets are termed Pinna'. 

 These pinnre nmy be again divided in a sinnlar m;inner, into distinct division.s or 

 leaflets along either side of a ^mnnfar// RachiK, and such divisions or leaflets are 

 called I'iniiulrs, the lamina thus beconnng Pijjiiinafc. The pinnules may them- 

 selves be partially (;ut intf) lohes so as to be pinnatilid, or even completely divided 

 into perfect leaflets, and then the frond becomes Tripunntfe. These ilitlerences 

 are important in distinguishing the several,spi cies ; but it is to be observed that 

 the extent of division of |)arts is less j;(rfect in y<ning and stunted forms, and 

 inoto, complete in those that are mature and luxuriant, — so that in a species nor- 

 mally bipinnate, a ycung or starved frond may be oidy jiinnate with pinnatitld 

 divisions, while an old or lu.xuriant one may b(i hipinn.ite with pinnatilid divisions, 

 or even trii)inniite. Such cases occur in the Lady Lein and the Buckler Fern. 



Fruit Dots. — In many ferns the lower surface of the frond has fruit dots, 

 which are most abundant on the ujjper half of the frond, but, in certain species, 

 there are separate fertile and infertile fronds, the fertile ones being usually nar- 

 rower in their i)arts or altogether contracted and unleafy. 



