OPHIOGLOSSACE.E. 21 



the extremity from whence new fronds are developed. From the top 

 of the caudex arises the frond, with its base enveloped in an olive- 

 brown stipule-like sheath, the remains of the covering which en- 

 velopes the bud. At the time of fructification an elongated conical 

 bud is found, which is the rudiment of the frond of the succeeding 

 year. At the same time there may be seen the withered remains of 

 the scale which enclosed the frond of the preceding year, and the 

 scars whence still earlier fronds have rotted, and it is these scars 

 which give a pitted appearance to the caudex. Fertile frond 4 to 15 

 inches high, the barren branch usually placed about the middle, but 

 very variable in this respect; barren branch resembling a sessile 

 decurrent leaf embracing the base of the stalk of the spike, 1J to 4 

 inches long, varying from broadly ovate or oval to rather narrowly 

 elliptical, acute or rather obtuse, entire at first, convolute when it 

 appears above the ground in April, afterwards with the sides folded 

 together, ultimately opening out until it is nearly flat. Fertile 

 branch of the frond consisting of a stalked spike. The length of the 

 stalk of the spike seems to have no relation to the luxuriance of the 

 plant. In my herbarium are specimens with the stalk of the spike 

 from a little over 1 inch to nearly 8 inches, Spike § to 2 inches 

 long, linear, flattened on both faces, but with a wider space between 

 the series of sporangia on the side away from the barren branch ; on 

 each side of the groove, i.e. at the edges of the spike the sporangia 

 are imbedded, they are contiguous and adherent to each other and at 

 length open by a wide transverse slit; the apex of the spike is 

 apiculate, and bare of sporangia. The spores are very minute and 

 of the same sulphur colour as those of the genus Lycopodium ; 

 they are subglobular, and marked with distinct blunt tubercles. 

 Occasionally there are two spikes produced and more have been 

 observed, though not by myself. 



In young or weakly plants the frond consists solely of a barren 

 branch, quite similar to that of the barren branch of the complete 

 frond ; like it, it is thick, fleshy, bright green ; it is so thick that when 

 held up against the light when living the venation is scarcely per- 

 ceptible, but when the plant is dried it may be very clearly seen ; 

 there is no midrib, but the veins anastomose, forming meshes which 

 are long and narrow towards the base and along the centre of the frond, 

 but become smaller and shorter in proportion as they approach the 

 margin ; the primary meshes are again divided into smaller meshes 

 by finer anastomosing veins : some of these secondary veins are often 

 free. 



Of var. /3 there are two forms ; that found by Mr. Townsend in 

 the Scilly Isles and the Orkney plants from the Calf of Flotta and the 

 Calf of Cava belong to the form termed intermedium by Vigineix and, 

 according to Milde, the 0. vulgatum var. ambiguum of Cosson and 

 Germain. My specimens are from 1 to 2^- inches high ; the barren 

 branch of the frond is broadly oval and situated usually above the 



