


































14 BRITISH ЕЕКМ5 
of Ше Fern, we may now proceed to consider Ше normal Ше cycle 
peculiar to Ferns generally as distinct from that of flowering plants. 
In the latter it is much shorter as regards the several steps or stages 
involved. Starting with the seed as sown, on reaching a congenial 
spot where there is sufficient warmth and moisture to induce 
germination, its husk swells, bursts, and emits first a root which 
enters the soil, and then a primary leaf or two leaves, according as 
it belongs to one or other of the two great plant divisions of Mono- 
cotyledons and 
' Dicotyledons, at the 
base or in the angle 
of which there is a 
bud. This bud pro- 
duces more leaves, 
and without further 
circumlocution the 
young plant is рго- 
duced. With the 
spore, on the other 
hand, when sown 
| under congenial 
conditions,although 
| it bursts its husk 
| and produces an 
outgrowth, this out- 
‚ growth does not 
consist of a root 
proper and an as- 
| sociated leaf ог 
, leaves, but forms 
| a small green semî 
| translucent scale, 
! more or less heart- 
| shaped, which 15 
attached somewhat 
closely to the soil 
by means of a number of root-hairs. This sale starts with a short 
row of cells from which protrude the first few root-hairs as the 
row lengthens by cell fissure and multiplication ; but very soon 
the cells multiply laterally as well, until the heart-shape in question 
is visible, which then increases in size until it is perhaps a quarter 
of an inch in diameter, the two rounded lobes being fairly free of 
the soil, while the abundant root-hairs are clustered at the other 
end. At this stage, if this scale or prothallus be detached and its 
ünder-side examined with a good lens, it will be seen that among 
the root-hairs there are a number of rounded, pimple-like projec- 
tions irregularly scattered, and that close to the indentation of the 
Fig. 5.—Development of young Fern. 

