AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 181 
topterts, Bladder-fern, has a bladder-like in- 
dusium attached by its base, and opening up- 
wards, resembling a basket 
of fruit; Adiantum, the 
Maiden-hair, has the sori 
lunate, crescent-shaped, up- 
on the margin of the fan- 
shaped segments of the 
frond ; Ophioglossum, Ad- 
der’s-tongue, produces its 
fructification in a linear, ta- 
pering spike, with two rows 
of spore-cases embedded in 
it, the tongue-like spike 
rising out of the centre of 
the solitary, undivided frond, 
somewhat after the manner 
of the spadix of the Arum ; 
the entire plant is green and 
succulent. 
These examples are suffi- 
cient to illustrate the variety 
which characterizes the fruc- 
tification of ferns, whilst the 
COMMON POLYPODY. 
same general type is preserved. Considerable 
diversity of opinion exists as to the classifica- 
