CHAPTER V 
IDENTIFICATION AND PRESERVATION 
Tpie student desirous of making himself acquainted with 
the classification of ferns must begin by thoroughly mastering 
the chapter on the parts of ferns, and the terms used in de- 
scribing them. Having done so, the next thing is definitely to 
understand the differences between the Cohorts, Divisions, 
Orders and Sub-orders ; and in connection with this, it is 
much to be regretted that no other good character than the 
opening of the capsule is obtainable. To follow out this 
character is difficult enough to bring many young students to a 
stand-still, but in South Africa fortunately there are only a few 
species in each of the groups, except in the Order Filices which 
is very large, and rather difficult to subdivide satisfactorily. 
Besides this, the few species which form these other groups 
are so distinct in their general appearance that with them the 
figures are sufficient for identification, and, when once known, 
he who wishes to study the capsules can easily do so. 
In the Order Filices the species are numerous, and often 
closely related to one another, but the characters of the 
genera in most cases are easily followed. 
When examining a plant, always make sure of the genus 
first, then compare it with the distinctive characters of each 
species in that genus, the point most to be noticed being 
given in the synopsis at the beginning of each genus. 
To go by the illustrations without consulting the text is 
very superficial work, and to attempt to follow descriptions, 
without first having mastered the alphabet, as the technical 
terms have been called, can only end in disgust. 
