126 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



long, are produced from thick, knotty rhizomes (prostrate stems), of a woody 

 nature, and clothed with scales of a rusty colour ; they are tripinnatifid (three 

 times divided nearly to the midrib), of a deep claret-red colour when young. 



fi^. 28, Pinna of D avail ia dlvarlcata 



(i nat. size). 



gradually changing to a bronzy or metalhc colour, and then to a deep shining- 

 green ; the various hues, all of which are generally observable on the j^lant, 

 have a beautiful and very pleasing appearance. The barren and fertile fronds, 

 although of similar size and shape, are very different, the latter being very 



