236 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
they near the top of the frond, in which they are 
finally merged. The lower pairs of branches, be- 
sides being larger than those above them, are also 
broader. The branches are again divided into 
leaflets, and these in their turn are either again 
divided or deeply cleft, and the lobes or smaller 
divisions, whether of branches or leaflets, are 
serrated. One peculiarity must be noted. The 
leaflets on the lower side of the mid-stem of the 
branches are much longer than those on the 
upper side ; but this disparity gradually decreases 
towards the top of the frond. It is, however, 
remarkably prominent on the lowest pair of 
branches, and the difference between the upper 
and lower leaflets is most marked in the case 
of the four immediately next the rachis on the 
lowest pair of branches. Even on these branches 
the difference between upper and lower leaflets 
gradually decreases towards the point of each 
branch, near which they are, both above and 
below, almost the same in size. 
On every part of the frond the lobes are curled 
backwards, — sometimes almost doubled back ; and 
