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This is the leaf of the common fern, or brake. On the back of the leaf are spores.

Fern Leaf

This is the leaf of the common fern, or brake. On the back of the leaf are spores.

"The elastic ring which surrounds the spore case."-Whitney, 1902

Annuli

"The elastic ring which surrounds the spore case."-Whitney, 1902

"The Fern is a leafy plant springing from a rhizome, which creeps below or on the surface of the ground or rises into the air like the trunk of a tree. This trunk does not taper, but is of equal diameter at both ends. Some tree ferns reach 75 feet high."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Giant Tree Fern

"The Fern is a leafy plant springing from a rhizome, which creeps below or on the surface of the ground…

"Signa Militaria, military ensigns or standards. The most ancient standard employed by the Romans is said to have been a handful of straw fixed to the top of a spear or pole. Hence the company of soldiers belonging to it was called Manipulus. The bundle of hay or fern was soon succeeded by the figures of animals, viz. the eagle, the wolf, the minotaur, the horse, and the boar. These appear to have corresponded to the five divisions of the Roman army." — Smith, 1873

Signa Militaria

"Signa Militaria, military ensigns or standards. The most ancient standard employed by the Romans is…

This illustration shows the sensitive fern, Onoclea: A, portion of normal green leaf. B, a spore-bearing leaf. C, two views of one of the round lobes of B, showing the veins and the sori on inner side of the lobe.

Onoclea

This illustration shows the sensitive fern, Onoclea: A, portion of normal green leaf. B, a spore-bearing…

A common fern plant.

Fern

A common fern plant.

A common fern plant.

Fern

A common fern plant.

A small genus of palm like plants.

Cyclanthus

A small genus of palm like plants.

"Scalariform or ladder-like prismatic vessels of a Tree Fern." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Tree Fern

"Scalariform or ladder-like prismatic vessels of a Tree Fern." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Scalariform ducts of a Fern; part of a bundle, prismatic by pressure.

Spiral Ducts

Scalariform ducts of a Fern; part of a bundle, prismatic by pressure.

A Tree-Fern, Dicksonia arborescens, with a young one near its base. In front a common herbaceous Fern (Polypodium vulgare) with its creeping stem or rootstock.

Tree-Fern

A Tree-Fern, Dicksonia arborescens, with a young one near its base. In front a common herbaceous Fern…

A section of the trunk of a Tree-Fern.

Tree-Fern Trunk

A section of the trunk of a Tree-Fern.

The Walking Fern, Camptosorus, showing its fruit-dots on the veins approximated in pairs.

Walking Fern

The Walking Fern, Camptosorus, showing its fruit-dots on the veins approximated in pairs.

A small piece (pinnule) of a Shield-Fern: a row of fruit-dots on each side of the midrib, each covered by its kidney shaped indusium.

Shield-Fern

A small piece (pinnule) of a Shield-Fern: a row of fruit-dots on each side of the midrib, each covered…

A very small and simple-leaved Fern.

Schizaea pusilla

A very small and simple-leaved Fern.

Scalariform ducts of a Fern, torn into a band.

Ducts

Scalariform ducts of a Fern, torn into a band.

A spore-case from the Walking-Fern, Camptosorus, just bursting by the partial straightening of the incomplete ring.

Walking-Fern

A spore-case from the Walking-Fern, Camptosorus, just bursting by the partial straightening of the incomplete…

Three spores from the Walking-Fern, Camptosorus.

Walking-Fern

Three spores from the Walking-Fern, Camptosorus.

A young prothallus of a Maiden-hair and an older one with the first fern-leaf developed from near the notch.

Maiden-hair

A young prothallus of a Maiden-hair and an older one with the first fern-leaf developed from near the…

"Frond of fern bearing sporangia in sori."—Finley, 1917

Fern frond

"Frond of fern bearing sporangia in sori."—Finley, 1917

"A, B, C, D, Successive stages of growth of prothallium from the spore in Osmunda cinnamomea; E, growth of fern plant from fertilized egg within the prothallium of Osmunda Claytoniana." -Stevens, 1916

Fern Growth

"A, B, C, D, Successive stages of growth of prothallium from the spore in Osmunda cinnamomea; E, growth…

"A, Antheridium containing sperm cells; B, archegonium containing an egg cell which has been found by five sperm cells. All from Osmunda cinnamomea." -Stevens, 1916

Fern Reproduction

"A, Antheridium containing sperm cells; B, archegonium containing an egg cell which has been found by…

Of the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), the fern-leaved false foxglove (Gerardia pedicularia).

Fern-Leaved False Foxglove

Of the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), the fern-leaved false foxglove (Gerardia pedicularia).

"Fossil Fern (Neuropteris)." -Taylor, 1904

Fern Fossil

"Fossil Fern (Neuropteris)." -Taylor, 1904

"Portion of fossil tree fern (Pecopteris arborescens) on coal shale." -Taylor, 1904

Fossil Tree Fern

"Portion of fossil tree fern (Pecopteris arborescens) on coal shale." -Taylor, 1904

A fossil fern (Pterophyllum) in a piece of jet.

Fern Fossil

A fossil fern (Pterophyllum) in a piece of jet.

"Phlebopteris–a characteristic Oolite fern." -Taylor, 1904

Fern Fossil

"Phlebopteris–a characteristic Oolite fern." -Taylor, 1904

"Spore-plant of a fern (Aspidium filix-mas). A, part of a rootstock and fronds; fr, young fronds unrollin. B, under side of a pinnule, showing sori, s. C, section through a sorus at right angles to surface of leaf, showing indusium, i, and sporangia, s. D, a sporangium discharging spores." -Bergen, 1896

Fern Spore Plant

"Spore-plant of a fern (Aspidium filix-mas). A, part of a rootstock and fronds; fr, young fronds unrollin.…

The maidenhair fern or Adiantum.

Maidenhair Fern

The maidenhair fern or Adiantum.

"A, Upper epidermis; B, lower epidermis, of the fern, Drynaria meyeniana." -Gager, 1916

Fern Epidermis

"A, Upper epidermis; B, lower epidermis, of the fern, Drynaria meyeniana." -Gager, 1916

"Fern leaves, showing various degrees of subdivision or branching of the blade. A, Phyllitis; B, Polypodium; C, Pteris; D, Adiantum." -Gager, 1916

Fern Leaves

"Fern leaves, showing various degrees of subdivision or branching of the blade. A, Phyllitis; B, Polypodium;…

"Germination of the spores of a fern. a, Before germination; b, early stage, showing protonema (pr.), and first rhizoid (rh); c, d, e, f, successive stages in the development of the prothallus." -Gager, 1916

Fern Germination

"Germination of the spores of a fern. a, Before germination; b, early stage, showing protonema (pr.),…

"Fern prothallus; cross-sections showing antheridia (an), sperms (sp), and rhizoids (rh). Below at the right is a sperm (sp) greatly enlarged." -Gager, 1916

Fern Prothallus

"Fern prothallus; cross-sections showing antheridia (an), sperms (sp), and rhizoids (rh). Below at the…

"Adder's tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum L.). R, runner or stolon." -Gager, 1916

Southern Adderstongue

"Adder's tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum L.). R, runner or stolon." -Gager, 1916

"Top, lateral pinna from a leaf of Marattia jraxinea. Below at left, synangium of same. At right, corss-section of the synangium." -Gager, 1916

Marratia Fern

"Top, lateral pinna from a leaf of Marattia jraxinea. Below at left, synangium of same. At right, corss-section…

Ophioglossum vulgatum, or Southern Adderstongue is a fern-like plant commonly growing in sand dunes.

Southern Adderstongue

Ophioglossum vulgatum, or Southern Adderstongue is a fern-like plant commonly growing in sand dunes.

The Antrophyum Lessonii is a type of fern from the Polypodiaceae family.

Antrophyum Fern

The Antrophyum Lessonii is a type of fern from the Polypodiaceae family.

The spore-cases and cup of Trichomanes radicans or the Aerialroot Bristle Fern.

Aerialroot Bristle Fern

The spore-cases and cup of Trichomanes radicans or the Aerialroot Bristle Fern.

The spore-case of Schizaea dichotoma, a fern from the Polypodiaceae family.

Schizaea

The spore-case of Schizaea dichotoma, a fern from the Polypodiaceae family.

Schizaea pusilla, or Little Curlygrass Fern is a small species of fern in the Curlygrass family (Schizaeaceae). here showing: "a, pinnule with sporangia; b, a sporangium, on larger scale." -Whitney, 1911

Curlygrass Fern

Schizaea pusilla, or Little Curlygrass Fern is a small species of fern in the Curlygrass family (Schizaeaceae).…

An illustration of a sea fern fossil from the carboniferous period. The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Ma (million years ago), to the beginning of the Permian period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Ma.

Sea Fern Fossil

An illustration of a sea fern fossil from the carboniferous period. The Carboniferous is a geologic…

An illustration of a fossil of a toothed fern. Ferns are vascular plants differing from the more primitive lycophytes by having true leaves (megaphylls), and they differ from seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) in their mode of reproduction — lacking flowers and seeds. Like all other vascular plants, they have a life cycle referred to as alternation of generations, characterized by a diploid sporophytic and a haploid gametophytic phase.

Leaf Indentations

An illustration of a fossil of a toothed fern. Ferns are vascular plants differing from the more primitive…

The Sea-Fir (Sertularia tubitheca) is mistaken as a plant but is actual a hydrozoan animal of the phylum Cnidaria.

Sea-Fir

The Sea-Fir (Sertularia tubitheca) is mistaken as a plant but is actual a hydrozoan animal of the phylum…

"Part of Epiphyllospermous Frond. In botany, bearing the fruit or spores on the back of the leaves or fronds, as ferns." -Whitney, 1911

Epiphyllospermous Frond

"Part of Epiphyllospermous Frond. In botany, bearing the fruit or spores on the back of the leaves or…

"Equisetum sylvaticum: a, a, sheath crowned with teeth; b, branches; c, c, fruiting spikes. 2. Clypeola, bearing sporangia. 3. Spore, with elaters coiled about it." -Whitney, 1911

Wood Horsetail

"Equisetum sylvaticum: a, a, sheath crowned with teeth; b, branches; c, c, fruiting spikes. 2. Clypeola,…

An illustration of a germinating spore of the common polypody: sp, exospore; k, first root-hair.

Germinating Spore of the Common Polypody

An illustration of a germinating spore of the common polypody: sp, exospore; k, first root-hair.

An illustration of a germinating spore of the common polypody: sp, exospore; k, first root-hair.

Germinating Spore of the Common Polypody

An illustration of a germinating spore of the common polypody: sp, exospore; k, first root-hair.

An illustration of a young prothallus: sp, spore; pr, prothallus. A prothallium, or prothallus is usually a pteridophyte, i.e. spore-bearing plant, (almost exclusively ferns) in gametophyte stage in the alternation of generations cycle.

Young Prothallus of Fern

An illustration of a young prothallus: sp, spore; pr, prothallus. A prothallium, or prothallus is usually…

An illustration of a microscopic view under the surface of a young prothallus: pr, prothallus; w, root-hairs; an, antheridia; ar, archegonia. A prothallium, or prothallus is usually a pteridophyte, i.e. spore-bearing plant, (almost exclusively ferns) in gametophyte stage in the alternation of generations cycle.

Young Prothallus of Fern

An illustration of a microscopic view under the surface of a young prothallus: pr, prothallus; w, root-hairs;…

An illustration of the anteridium of a bracken. An antheridium (plural: antheridia) is a haploid structure or organ producing and containing male gametes (called antherozoids or sperm). Brackens (Pteridium) are a genus of about ten species of large, coarse ferns, in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. The genus has probably the widest distribution of any fern genus in the world, being found on all continents except Antarctica and in all environments except for hot and cold deserts. Therefore it is considered to have a cosmopolitan distribution.

Antheridium of Bracken

An illustration of the anteridium of a bracken. An antheridium (plural: antheridia) is a haploid structure…

Eremopteris artemisiaefolia is a species of "a genus of fossil ferns, separated from Sphenopteris." -Whitney, 1911

Fossil Fern

Eremopteris artemisiaefolia is a species of "a genus of fossil ferns, separated from Sphenopteris."…

An illustration of the archegonium of bracken. An archegonium (pl: archegonia), is a multicellular structure or organ of the gametophyte phase of certain plants producing and containing the ovum or female gamete. The archegonium has a long neck and a swollen base.

Archegonium of Bracken

An illustration of the archegonium of bracken. An archegonium (pl: archegonia), is a multicellular structure…

An illustration of section through a pinnule of the frond and sorus of Aspidium: b, mesophyll; sch, indusium; sp, sporangium; st, its stalk; r, annulus.

Section of a Nephrolepis

An illustration of section through a pinnule of the frond and sorus of Aspidium: b, mesophyll; sch,…

An illustration of a pinnule of pteris showing veins and sori.

Pinnule of Pteris

An illustration of a pinnule of pteris showing veins and sori.

An illustration of a pinnule of aspenium showing veins and sori.

Pinnule of Asplenium

An illustration of a pinnule of aspenium showing veins and sori.

An illustration of a pinnule of polypodium showing veins and sori.

Pinnule of Polypodium

An illustration of a pinnule of polypodium showing veins and sori.

An illustration of a pinnule of aspidium showing veins and sori.

Pinnule of Aspidium

An illustration of a pinnule of aspidium showing veins and sori.

Lycopodiopsida is a class of plants often loosely grouped as the fern allies, and includes the clubmosses. Lycopodiopsida traditionally included all the clubmosses, including Selaginella and Isoetes. However, subdivisions within the Division Lycopodiophyta are now considered ancient enough to warrant higher-level separation in accordance with cladistics. Clubmosses are thought to be structurally similar to the earliest vascular plants, with small, scale-like leaves, homosporous spores borne in sporangia at the bases of the leaves, branching stems (usually dichotomous), and generally simple form.

Club Moss

Lycopodiopsida is a class of plants often loosely grouped as the fern allies, and includes the clubmosses.…

The Common Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) is a species of male fern in the Dryopteridaceae family.

Common Male Fern

The Common Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) is a species of male fern in the Dryopteridaceae family.

A species of Seed Fern (Sphenopteris obtusiloba) is a fossil fern in the Carboniferous Era.

Seed Fern

A species of Seed Fern (Sphenopteris obtusiloba) is a fossil fern in the Carboniferous Era.