VI 
PREFACE. 
of the parts of inflorescence in Ferns, is given by Dr. Goode, 
in an article upon the Physiology of Ferns, in the Reliquary , 
YoL I p. 35—37. 
This elementary account of the Fern tribe, as being a group 
of Bud-seeded plants, leads to the explanation of the terms 
employed in this and in other works on Ferns, in describing 
the individual species. The true fibrous roots of a Fern, are 
distinct, generally, from the more or less underground, and 
often prostrate and creeping stem, or rhizome , which is, how¬ 
ever, called caudex , when, being erect, it tends to become an 
upright trunk: from this the stalk of the fronds arises, which 
up to the leafy part is called the stipes, and above the leaf, or 
division of the leaf, it becomes the rachis. This central stalk 
is sometimes branched, and that mostly by forking : and from 
it, more or less numerous veins branch into the flat substance of 
the leaf, which when branched again are called veinlets; but 
the veins and veinlets are sometimes called costce and costules. 
If the veins do not branch, they are described as simple ; 
when they branch and so end, they are said to be forked and 
free: if, however, they unite at their extremities and form a 
network, they are said to anastomose, and the spaces thus 
enclosed by the united veins, are termed areoles. 
The whole leaf is called a Frond; if undivided, it is con¬ 
sidered simple; if it divides, and the divisions are stalked, 
each stalked division is called a pinna. If a pinna be again 
divided, and the divisions stalked, such secondary divisions 
are called pinnules. These stalked divisions of the main leaf 
are often multiplied two or three times. But if divisions of 
the main leaf occur, which are not stalked, such a frond is 
said to be pinnatifid. Each mass of fruit on the frond is called 
