FERN FAMILY. 303 



VI. OPHIOGLOSSACE.E, the ADDKR'S-TONGUE FAM- 

 ILY: mostly rather small ferns, with sessile, gluluilar, coriac-nus 

 opaque and smooth spore-cases, opening transversely into 2 valves, 

 and wholly destitute of a ring. Fronds not rolled up in the bud, 

 as they are in all the foregoing, rising from a very short rootstock 

 or conn, with fleshy roots. 



29. BOTRYCHIUM. Spore-cases in pinnate or compound spikes, distinct. Sterile 



part of the frond compound; veins free. 



30. OPHIOGLOSSUM. Spore-cases cohering in a simple spike. Sterile part of 



frond simple in our species ; the veins reticulated. 



1. ACROSTICHTJM CHRYSODIUM. (From Greek words meaning 

 a row at the tup, the application not evident.) All tropical. 



A. atireum. A large evergreen Fern, along the coast of South Florida; 

 the fronds simply pinnate, coriaceous; pinnae 4' -6' long, l'-2' wide, elliptical 

 or oblong-linear. 



2. PLATYCERIUM, STAG-HORX FERN. (Name from the Greek, 

 meaning broad horns.) Natives of Africa, Australia, &c, : cult, in conserva- 

 tories. 



P. alcicorne. Sterile fronds sessile, rather thin, flat and rounded, over- 

 lapping each other; fertile ones erect, 1 high, whitish and minutely downy 

 beneath, 2-3 times forked, with divisions about 1' wide, the topmost ones 

 fruitful. 



3. POLYPODITJM, POLYPODY. (Name in Greek means many-fooled, 

 referring to the branching rootstock.) An immense genus, found in all parts 

 of the world. 



1. POLYPODIUM proper. Veins free: ilie following all native. 



P. VUlgare, COMMON POLYPODY. Rocky places N., small, simply pin- 

 nafitid, evergreen, smooth both sides, 4' -10' high, l'-.'i' wide, the numerous 

 divisions oblong-linear; fruit-dots rather large. (Lessons, p. 157, fig. 499.) 



P. incanum. Shady places S., often on trees ; much like the last, but 

 much smaller, and beneath grayish and scurfy with peltate scales; fruit-dots 

 rather small. 



2. CAMPY LOXEfrROX. Vt'ins parallel, pinnate from thf nti<lril<, t'onn-t<il l>i) 

 numerous transverse. angularly arched veinlets, with short fruit-bearing r< iii- 

 /</.- proceeding from the angles. 



P. Phyllitidis, HARTS-TONGUE, of Tropical America ; frond simple, 

 linear-lanceolate, 1-1^ long, l'-2' wide, thinly chartacfous, smooth and 

 shining ; fruit-dots in 2 rows between the veins. 



3. NlPHOBOH'S. Veins much as in the preceding, but eery obscure and c 



reticulated. Fronds simple, of a thickish texture, covered ;i l-"th $i<l>s u-iiti 

 a close, stellate down. 



P. Lingua. Cult, from Japan : fronds 4'-S' loin:, ovate-oblong or lanceo- 

 late, entire, at length nearly smooth above; fruit-dot- exceedingly numerous, 

 closely arranged in many rows. 



4. PHLEB6DIUM. Veins reticulated, with free reinlets included in the larrjrr 

 meshes. Fruit-dots in 1-3 rows betn-een the inidn'!> anil iimri/in, commonly 

 placed each one on the converging ends of a /><nr of' r, / 



P. aureum. A large showy Fern of Florida, and cult, from West Indies ; 

 fronds on a stout stalk, broadly ovate in outline, smooth, pale green above. 

 glaucous beneath, pinnately parted into 5 - 9 or more oblong-linear or lamv- 

 late spreading divisions. 



