The leaf of a fern. These are called fronds to distinguish them from the leaves of flowering plants. Leaves in flowering plants are purely concerned with photosynthesis whereas fern fronds have both a photosynthetic function and a reproductive function. Each fern plant may have from one to many fronds. They may be as small as 1 cm (filmy ferns) or as large as 5 m (mamaku/black tree fern).
Image acknowledgement: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
