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The minute primary growth from the spore of ferns and other Pteridophyta, which bears the true sexual organs; the oöphoric generation of ferns, etc.

A silicified stem of tree fern, found in abundance in the Triassic sandstone.

That department of botany which treats of ferns.

A madness, craze, or strong fancy, for ferns. [R.] C. Kingsley.

A class of flowerless plants, embracing ferns, horsetails, club mosses, quillworts, and other like plants. See the Note under Cryptogamia. -- Pter"i*do*phyte`, n.

ic, yellowish brown chaff, gathered in the Hawaiian Islands from the young fronds of free ferns of the genus Cibotium, chiefly C. Menziesii; -- used for stuffing mattresses, cushions, etc., and as an absorbent.

pon the leaves or young shoots of some plants, especially upon the petioles and leaves of ferns. Gray.

ited States, having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. -- Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. -- Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American gra…

The continued stem or midrib of a pinnately compound leaf, as in a rose leaf or a fern.

An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium.

aurel (Laurus nobilis.) -- Royal eagle. (Zoöl.) See Golden eagle, under Golden. -- Royal fern (Bot.), the handsome fern Osmunda regalis. See Osmund. -- Royal mast (Naut.), the mast next above the topgallant mast and usually the highest on a square-rigged vessel. The royal yard and royal sail are attached to the royal…

ngtime flower (Thalictrum anemonides) common in the United States. -- Wall rue, a little fern (Asplenium Ruta-muraria) common on walls in Europe.

ving the qualities of Satan; resembling Satan; extremely malicious or wicked; devilish; infernal. "Satanic strength." "Satanic host." Milton. Detest the slander which, with a Satanic smile, exults over the character it has ruined. Dr. T. Dwight. -- Sa*tan"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Sa*tan"ic*al*ness, n.

a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.

o be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up. Scatter a little mungy straw or fern amongst your seedlings, to prevent the roots from scorching. Mortimer.

sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. E. Darwin. Sensitive fern (Bot.), an American fern (Onoclea sensibilis), the leaves of which, when plucked, show a slight tendency to fold together. -- Sensitive flame (Physics), a gas flame so arranged that under a suitable adjustment of pressure it…

d French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shield fern (Bot.), any fern of the genus Aspidium, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; -- called also wood fern. See Illust. of Indusium.

One of the fruit dots, or small clusters of sporangia, on the back of the fronds of ferns.

Any fern of the genus Asplenium, some species of which were anciently used as remedies for disorders of the spleen.

The axis or receptacle in certain ferns (as Trichomanes), which bears the sporangia.