Ferns are particularly ancient, herbaceous plants, which were particularly numerous on earth in prehistoric times. In the Carboniferous Age, ferns and related horsetails formed vast forests. The remains of these forests have formed coal deposits. With the exception of a few tree ferns in the tropics, ferns are now low growing plants and thrive especially where it is humid and shady, e.g. on forest edges. The leaves are often rolled up characteristically during growth. Ferns usually grow from an underground network, the so-called rhizome, which can spread over several metres. Ferns do not reproduce via seeds, but via spores that are formed on the undersides of the leaflets in the spore containers. These spore containers can be seen in the preparation. Compared to seeds, spores are simple and very small and do not contain any storage substances. In order to compensate this disadvantage, many spores are formed and spread by the wind. Ferns are used little, some species are also poisonous and can be dangerous e.g. for grazing animals.

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