194 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



wood or Tree Fern stem with which they are brought into contact. These 

 trailing stems, as thick as a linger, produce two distinct sorts of fronds, barren 

 and fertile, both of which are borne on straw-coloured stalks, Gin. to 12in. 



Fig. 24. Acrostichum Coenopteris 

 (i nat. size). 



long, scaly below. The barren ones, 2ft. to 3ft. long and about 1ft. broad, are 

 simply pinnate (once divided to the midrib) ; the pinnae (leaflets) are of an 

 almost leathery texture, shining green, and frequently measure from 4in. to 



