The steles—cylinders of vascular tissues in the centres of fern stems—exhibit somewhat diverse patterns. Most common ferns possess a “dictyostele,” consisting of vascular strands interconnected in such a manner that, in any given cross section of stem, several distinct bundles can be observed. These are separated by regions filled with parenchyma cells known as leaf gaps. There are, however, numerous “siphonostelic” ferns, in which the gaps do not overlap and a given section shows only one gap, and some “protostelic” ferns, in which no gaps at all are formed. Complex stelar patterns are known in some species, as in the common bracken fern (Pteridium), which has a polycyclic dictyostele, in which one stele occurs within another stele. Large strands of fibrelike cells running between the two steles form mechanically specialized hard tissue, or sclerenchyma. As herbaceous plants, ferns do not form true woody tissues.
Root
Fern roots are generally thin and wiry, although some are fleshy and either slender (in the Ophioglossaceae) or as much as 13 mm (0.5 inch) in diameter (e.g., Acrostichum and Marattia). The relation of the roots to the stems is a valuable identification tool. For example, in certain tree ferns (e.g., Cyathea and Cibotium) and in the royal ferns (Osmunda), the entire stem surface is covered by masses of roots. If large enough, the dead tangles of tree fern roots can be cut with a saw into various shapes suitable for attaching epiphytic greenhouse plants, and pieces of such root masses have proved to be useful in horticulture for cultivating orchids and bromeliads. Because of the massive destruction of tree ferns for this purpose, the importation of tree fern logs into many countries is now prohibited. Certain tropical ferns have elaborately hairy roots whose surfaces are covered with locks of silky golden or brown root hairs.
Leaf
Shapes
The leaf (also known as frond) of ferns is the part of the plant most readily visible to observation. The leaf plan in practically all ferns is pinnate—that is, featherlike with a central axis and smaller side branches—and this is considered to be the primitive condition because of its widespread occurrence. From this basic type a broad diversity of forms evolved. Some ferns have palmate leaves (with veins or leaflets radiating from one point), and some, such as the staghorn ferns, have secondarily evolved falsely dichotomous leaves. In some genera (e.g., Lygodium and Salpichlaena) the main leaf axis (rachis) twines about on shrubs and small trees, sometimes reaching 20 metres (65 feet) in length.
Whether a given leaf is divided into segments (compound) or is undivided (simple) is of considerable value in identification of similar fern species. The difference between divided and undivided leaves is not a profound one, however, and closely related species commonly differ from one another in this respect.
The extent of division in fern leaves, or fronds, ranges from those in which the leaf margins are merely so deeply lobed as to have narrow-based segments to those having obviously stalked leaflets, or pinnae. The pinnae themselves may also be lobed or truly divided with stalked segments; and the resulting segments, the pinnules, may also be lobed or divided. Depending on the degree of cutting, fronds are described as simple, once divided, twice divided, thrice divided, and so on. Some ferns are known in which the fronds are five times compound, making them exceedingly delicate, with segments so small as to be almost hairlike.
Venation
Generally, the patterns of the leaf veins, or vascular bundles (which can be seen readily by holding the specimen up to a strong light), are pinnate, and the veins are free; that is, they all diverge and never coalesce, either along their sides or at the ends. Nevertheless, there are numerous fern groups in which netted, or reticulate, venation is found. These have vein patterns like those of other ferns for the most part, except that various systems of networks and areolae (areas enclosed within loops of veins) have developed between the major, pinnately arranged veins. There are many reticulate patterns known. One of the more striking is that in which each loop or areola contains one or more free included veinlets, as seen in various members of the family Polypodiaceae. Another is the herringbone pattern, believed to result from an evolutionary concrescence (growing together) of pinnae, as shown by certain tree ferns (Cyathea), lady ferns (Athyrium), and marsh ferns (Thelypteris).