CHAPTER II 
PARTS OF FERNS 
The component parts of a fern differ considerably, both 
in formation and in purpose, from those of a flowering plant, 
and to avoid confusion distinctive names are applied to them. 
Very many different terms are in use, but as it is more useful 
thoroughly to understand one set of words, and adhere strictly 
to them, than to wander through the whole category, the 
terms here explained are those used in the descriptive pages 
following, and they are used only in the sense here explained. 
A fern consists of roots, stem, and fronds, and the more 
minute parts situated upon these. 
ROOTS are either wiry, or like very fine hair ; always 
present, but affording us almost no characters, and therefore 
they require to be carefully distinguished from the rhizomes, 
which are always characteristic. 
Stem. — The stem in what are known as tree ferns is 
erect, and several feet high, bearing the fronds at its summit ; 
but a much more frequent form is for the stem to be prostrate 
on, or under, the ground, when it is known as a rhizome. 
The rhizome may be stout and short, or, as in the Bracken, 
very widely creeping, slender, and sometimes branched. In 
some it is underground, in others creeping on the surface, and 
in others creeping over tree trunks. The fronds are some- 
times scattered along the rhizome, and sometimes clustered 
at the growing point only — which is then known as the crown. 
Some ferns have almost no rhizome, but the crown only, 
standing erect, like an undeveloped tree stem. In a few cases 
