
. S 
THE LIFE HISTORY OF FERNS 13 
takes place, so that although in size an adult Fern may be as small 
as a tiny tuft of grass or, on the other hand, rival a majestic Palm, 
by its tall trunk and widespread plume of frondage, at the outset 



——: 
Fig. 4.—Development and fertilization of Archegonia. 
they may be quite indistinguishable, and the spores in every case 
are microscopic in size. 
With these preliminary remarks indicative of the past history 

