Filicales

pl. ( Bot.) The Ferns, an alliance of plants, cla Acrogens, corresponding to the order Filices of De Ju ieu, and consisting of herbs with rhizomatous stems, and of arborescent plants. The leaves, or fronds, as they are generally called, arise irregularly from the rhizome, or are placed in tufts upon the apex of the stem; they are almost always circinate in vernation, and are simple or compound. The fructification consists of little, somewhat rounded cases inclosing spores. These cases are called sporangia, and are collected in heaps, usuaily on the under surface or at the margin of the fronds, or rarely on the upper surface, or IMG:content-0149.png:[merged small][merged small][graphic] Fig. 1008.-COMMON MALE FERN. Filiciform, Fil'icoid, a. Fern-like.