THE DWARF ADDERS TONGUE. 
broad, fleshy, and flattened base of the spike ; spike linear 
piculate, about half an inch long, often rather widened a little above the base, fleshy, and 
aring along each margin from three to six spore-cases. А barren frond generally accompanies the 
fertile frond, and sometimes more than one fertile frond is produced from one erown 
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hing, so as to produc ies of nearly parallel venules, which here and there anasto 
forming a fow long narrow are There are apparently no fece included вее 
Fructification occupying the margins of the spike. Sporr-cases smooth, spherical, without rings or 
reticulations, embedded in a single series of from threo to sis, in cach margin of the spike, bursting 
transversely s smooth, roundish or angular, pale-coloured 
Duration crown and roots appear to be perennial, though it has been suggested that they 
are biennial. ‘The perennial character of the plant may perhaps be maintained by the successive 
production of crowns, ‘The habits of the whole group Ophinglossacew aro, however, little known. ‘The 
fronds are annual, growing up in winter, and fully developed by the middle of January 
"This curious little plant, one of the most recent additions to the list of British species, may be known 
from the Common Adder's Tongue by its small size, its thick fleshy texture, and the narrow outline 
the sterile branch of its frond. The plants average about a couple of inches in height, and rarely 
exceed three inches. Tt is an extremely interesting plant; and we think may fairly be allowed to 
remain separate from O, eulgatim—unless indeed in the Vegetal t adopt the rule of 
combining under the name of a species a lengthened series of widely dissimilar forms, if they happen 
to be at all seemingly connected ; a practice, which at the least would be equally inconvenient with the 
more fashionable mania for subdivision and separation. As in other simple-fronded genera, the species 
are, however, really difficult of limitation. 
‘The most successful attempts that have been made to cultivate this little plant have consisted in 
taking up the plant, in little clods of soil, and planting them in a compost of sandy loam, which 
resembles tho soil in which they naturally grow. Tn this way, the plants may be occasionally preserved 
and induced to reappear at the proper season ; but like all the allied species it ean hardly be considered 
as a manageable plant in the eultivator' hands, 
