STUDIES IN FERN LIFE ll 



Fern [Athryinm filix-fcBmina) bears a general 

 resemblance to the Male Fern, save that it is 

 a paler green and of an altogether more delicate 

 growth. The manner of spore production is on 

 somewhat similar lines to that of the Male Fern, 

 though there are certain small differences. One 

 of the chief of these is that the covering of the 

 spore mass in the sporangium is fixed at one 

 side, instead of in the middle, as in the case of 

 the Male Fern. 



Many of the ferns are well able to exist in 

 dry situations. The Black Maidenhair Spleen- 

 wort [Asplenium adiantum nigrum) is a widely 

 distributed species which is always distinctive 

 by reason of its black stalks. This fern seems 

 to be quite happy growing on the top of a 

 wall or in the cleft of a rock. The sori, or 

 clusters of sporangia, are elongated in shape, 

 and are covered with a very pale green or white 

 scale, during the early stages of development. 

 After a while, however, the spore cases commence 

 to swell, burst through the covering, and fill up 

 the spaces between the clusters, so that even- 

 tually the back of the frond may appear to be 

 entirely covered with the deep brown cases. 

 The Rue-leaved Spleenwort {A. ruta mnraria) is 



