2. 



INTRODUCTION 



Perns belong to the Order Pteridophyta and are non- 

 flowering plants. 



They do not produce seeds, but reproduce by means of 

 spores. , 



■;7hen the spores fall to the groxmd and suitable ' ' .^„ 

 conditions prevail, they grow into tiny plants termed' 

 prothallia. On the prothallia, the reproductive organs 

 are borne which produce the new fern, like the parent 

 plant. 



Ferns have sterile (non- 

 spore -producing) leaves, or 

 fronds, as they are called in 

 the fern family. Some fertile 

 fronds are quite different in 

 appearance from the sterile, 

 as in the Botrychiums where 

 the fruiting parts resemble 

 clusters of grapes; and the 

 Osmxmdas where they resemble 

 clusters of flowers, whiles in 

 others the spore-cases are 

 borne on the back of the 

 fronds. 



The placing of the fruit- 

 dots, or sori, is one of the 

 most important determining 

 factors in identifying ferns. 



Illustrations in this leaflet 

 show location and shape of 

 sori in upper left corner, the 

 shape of frond in center, and 

 characteristic growth and 

 height by foot space drawings 

 in lov/er right corner. 



Thanks are due to Dr. Clyde 

 Fisher of the Araerican Museum of Natural His 

 Camp Wigwam, for reading the manuscript for s 

 accuracy; Florence Woodbury, Harrison, liaine 

 in the field and research work, and to Lewis 

 for aid in editing this pamphlet. 



rosters 



Creepina 

 Bodtstock 



tory and 

 cientific 

 , for aid 

 W. 7/alker 



