V ■ ; ■ . The’ Ferns of South Africa. 
ferti^izatforicfo^rr^* part pf the flower by pollen grains produced on 
another part of the same flower, or of a different flower of the same 
kind. 
In the ferns, however, neither the seed-like capsules, nor the 
dust-like particles, or spores , contained in them are the result of 
sexual fertilization ; indeed, until after the spores are set free there 
is no flower or anything analogous to a flower, nor any sexual 
parts, produced on the fern, and from the first appearance of a 
young frond it bears these capsules and spores which grow simul- 
taneously with it, and reach maturity also at the same time. 
It is this production of reproductive spores, without flowers or 
sexual connection, that is used as the first division in systematic 
botany, separating plants into two groups, flowering, or Pha?ie- 
rogams , and flowerless, or Cryptogams , the latter including, besides 
the plants now under study, such plants as mosses, lichens, sea- 
weeds, and fungi, or mushrooms. 
The further life history of the spores will be explained further 
on, but enough has been said to distinguish clearly between a fern 
and a more highly developed plant. 
There remains, however, the difficulty that these parts are too 
minute for examination, except under a powerful microscope, and 
some readers may want a distinction which they can see for them- 
selves without the microscope. This is not obtainable in every 
case ; but with ferns a little practice will enable anyone to identify 
the regular lines, or dots of capsules, along the edge, or on the 
surface, of the underside of the mature fertile frond, but which are 
not to be found on the leaves of any flowering plant. Another 
easily seen character, which holds in all, except Ophioglossum, is 
the manner in which the young fronds lie rolled up before they 
unfold, i.e.f every frond is rolled inward like the mainspring of a 
watch, having the tip of the frond for its centre, and each curve 
outward, rather larger, and containing all the rest. The divisions 
of the frond are also folded in the same way. This is what is 
known as circinate vernation , and is almost confined to ferns, 
though it also occurs among the Cycads or Kaffir Breads, and 
several other plants. 
