PARTS OF FERNS. 



does not now grow within nearly 200 miles of the place where this apparent connecting 

 link occurs ; though, as it is found at Stewart's Island, it may have done so at some 

 remote period. Though the eastern side of the Middle Island is now nearly treeless, 

 the quantity of old roots and logs found in swamps proves it to have been once a 

 forest region, and C. meduUaris probably occurred there. There is also a distinft 

 sequence of form traceable throughout the whole series of orders, tribes, genera, and 

 species ; but no clear proof of even new species originating. When, however, a number 

 of prothalli grow so close together that they are forced to stand on edge as it were 

 (and this often happens) it is evident that their sexual organs may intermix, and 

 hybridisation occur : and thus intermediate forms may arise, and may have done so. 



It would be well to thoroughly master the terms which I have given above, as 

 they are in constant use, but the following definitions of the terms often met with in 

 scientific descriptions will also be found useful : — 



Acute — Pointed. 

 Acuminate — Long-pointed. 

 Aculeate — Prickly, or prickly-looking. 

 Adnate — One part being joined to another, or 



projecting from it. 

 Adpressed — Pressed against. 

 Alternate — Branching right and left, but not 



opposite. 

 Apex pl. Apices — Tip of a frond, pinna, or 



pinnule. 

 Articulated — Jointed : usually with a knot. 

 Attenuated — Slender : narrow. 

 Auricle — An ear-shaped lobe, usually at base 



of frond or pinna. 

 Bifid — Cleft in two. 

 Caudate — Tailed. 

 Ciliated — Having fine hairs. 

 Circinate — Coiled, as a very young frond is, 



till it unrolls. 

 Clavate — Club-shaped. Thickened upwards, 



with rounded or flattened top. 

 Compressed — Packed together. Flattened. 



Narrowed. Shortened. 

 CoNFLUENT-Growing towards, or into each other. 

 Connate — Firmly grown together. 

 Cordate — Heart-shaped. 

 Costate — Ribbed. 

 CuNEATE — Wedge-shaped : usually when the 



point is downwards. 

 Deciduous — Dying in winter. Falling off after 



a time. 

 Decumbent — Lying down, but with the end 



turned up. 



Deltoid — Triangular. 



DiCHOTOMOUS — Branching into pairs. 



Digitate — Divided into finger-like points. 



Dimidiate — Divided into unequal halves. 



Distichous — In two opposite rows. 



Divaricate — To branch obtusely. 



Elliptic — Usually oval, rather than truly 



elliptical. 

 Falcate or Ensiform — Sword-shaped. Curved 



and tapering. 

 Ferruginous — Rust-coloured. Brownish red. 

 Filiform — -Thread-like. 

 Flabellate — fan-shaped. 

 Flaccid — Weak. Unable to stand erect. 

 Flexuous — Bent about. " Winding. Twisted. 



Zigzag. 

 Fulvous — Yellowish brown. 

 Glabrous — Shining. 



Glaucous — Soft pale green. Whitish or silvery. 

 Imbricate — Overlapping. One over the other 



like tiles on a house. 

 Involute — Rolled inwards from the sides. 

 Lanceolate — Lance-shaped. Tapering to both 



ends. 

 Lobule — A little lobe. 

 Lunate — Like a crescent, or half moon. 

 Lyrate — Like a lyre in shape. 

 Obcordate — Like a heart upside down, or ace 



of spades. 

 Ovate — Egg shaped. 

 Obovate — The same upside down. 

 Opaque — -The opposite ot transparent. 

 Pedicel — A stalk ; usually a short one. 



