88 BRITISH FERNS. 
its junction with the caudex, but upwards they diminish 
in size, and are much smaller where the stalk and 
leafy portion meet. The caudex has always a disposi- 
tion to fix itself on a perpendicular surface, whence the 
fronds issue in a nearly horizontal direction, their rigid 
ahit al + » ERED 1 . eas 8 . 
MALY OL 
that graceful bend which is more or less observable in 
every division of the frond in some degree possesses, 
the point is bent downwards, and very frequently passes 
