36 



ACADEMIC BOTANY. 



63. The Ferns have leaf- 

 like fronds -which bear the 

 spores, though the spore-bear- 

 ing fronds are often trans- 

 7 formed, as in the Osmunda 

 (Fig. 33). The fronds are 

 forJe-vdned (Fig. 33, a) and 

 cirdnate in bud, — rolled like 

 isier (Fig. 34). The spore- 

 cases are in groups called Sori (L. 

 so7'us, a heap), on the under surface 

 of the frond; either at the end of 

 the veins and near the margin (Fig. 

 34) or variously arranged along the 

 veins (Figs. 33, 35). The fronds vary 



Fio. Ka. — Uliara fragllls: a, .i-i ij.j. 



globule; numrie above itcutverti- greatly in Shape and texture. 

 l^Ie'of'Z'l\:^^,t:'S:^X^ 64. The student win observe the 

 Joint! B', B", bi-anohiets. distinctions in the spore-cases a.s we 



proceed. These are the characters which separate the 

 Tribes in classification. 



The Ferns are the most be- 

 loved of Cryptogams. The 

 Venus Maidenhair (Pig. 34) 

 is perhaps the most beautiful 

 of the low ferns. At Cumber- 

 land Falls, Ky., where it has 

 all the requisite conditions, — 

 warmth, reflected light, and 

 moisture, — it has a delicacy in 

 both color and texture which 

 no art can portray. On this, 

 and the Hart's-tongue (Fig; 

 35), which is another favorite, 

 the spore-bearing fronds differ 

 but little from the others. 



65. The Tree-Ferns (see 

 full-page illustration, Lesson 

 I.) are found in the higher 

 sections of this Order. They 

 are tropical, inhabiting both 

 hemispheres ; occurring on 

 the mainland (Peru, etc.), 

 but especially loving islands, 

 where they get the needed 

 warmth and moisture. The 

 ferns are most interesting to the student of nature ; they have more 



Fig. 33.— Royal Fern [Omttm<ta regutis), with 

 sterile and spore-bearing fronds: n, leaflet of 

 sterile frond; b, 1ft. of spore-bearing frond; c, 

 spore-case ; d, same opening by 2 valves 



