Ferns are mostly perennial herbaceous plants. They rarely appear to have a woody stem or trunk. Instead they have stems, rhizomes, lamina axes
and veins often covered with chaffy outgrowths called paleae or scales. They sexually reproduce by means of spores.
Spores are borne in sporangia mostly grouped together to form sori. The different forms of sori are important in classification and also their location on the leaf blade or lamina.

Most species inhabit moist and shady locations but many South African species have adapted to dry conditions.

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