12 
The organs of reproduction are generally called spores, 
because proper seeds have an embryo root and one or two 
leaves, according as it is an Endogen or Exogen. If the 
seed be sown, as, for instance, the bean, with the embryo 
root upward and embryo leaves downward, the seed will 
turn itself round and force the leaves upward and the root 
downwards. Not so the spores. Eern seed was said by 
the superstitious of yore to render persons invisible, if 
gathered on the eve of St. John’s day. 
“ We steal as in a castle cocksure. 
We have the receipt of fern seed, 
We walk invisible. 
Nay, by my faith, I think you are more beholden 
To the night than to fern seed for your walking invisible.” 
Shakspeare, Henry 4, Act 2, Scene 1. 
There is also a great difference between the veins on the 
leaflets of Eerns and those on the leaves of the great orders 
of flowering plants. There generally is a mid-vein, from 
which issue veins on either side, that are either undivided 
or divided into two, three, or four lines, with the fructifi- 
cation on one or more of these. Many of the Eerns found 
in the coal formations are named according to the division 
and direction of the veins. The fronds are rarely undivided, 
as the Hartstongue. Plate II, fig. 17. What, indeed, 
constitutes the chief beauty and elegance of this part of the 
vegetable world, is the peculiarly chaste and striking man- 
ner in which the various parts of a frond are cut and 
severed. Not the finest tool of the most skilful mechanic 
could perform such exquisite workmanship. No rich colour, 
as in the rose and camelia, no sweet perfume, as in the 
violet : it is the matchless distribution of the various parts 
that is so attractive and ornamental. Some Eerns have the 
fronds deeply divided, but not to the mid-rib or rachis as 
the common Polypody, Plate I, fig.. 3, Others are divided 
to the rachis and have distinct leaflets on each side, as the 
Maidenhair Spleenwort, Plate II, fig. 12. These are said 
to be pinnate and the frond is called a pinna. If on either 
side of the rachis, we have many pinnae, as Plate II, fig. 11, 
the Eern is said to be bipinnate ; and, if instead of mere 
leaflets on such a pinna, there are some little pinnae or 
