14 Ferns and Fern Culture. 
in the form of sap through the stems and into the 
foliage, where, being acted upon by the light, it is 
digested and prepared for assimilation by the plant. A 
consideration of this fact will help the most unlearned to 
realise how important good healthy roots are to a plant 
to enable it to thrive. 
STEMS. 
Stems are of various characters, specified by the names 
caudex, rhizome, and stolon or sarmentum. Most 
DavaLLia ALPINA, 
(Showing creeping rhizones.) 
people who know anything about these plants are 
acquainted with the ‘‘Lady Fern,” and the ‘Male 
Fern,” so common in Britian. The foliage springs from 
a central crown. This crown is the top of the caudex or 
stem, which slowly increases in thickness and length 
year by year. In these Ferns the stems are of upright 
growth, and occasionally rise above the ground a few 
