CRTPTOGAMIA. 215 



seeds, in all directions, in the form of fine dust. This may 

 be observed by placing a frond on a sheet of white paper, as 

 heretofore noticed. Many plants of this order are found in 

 our woods, and are known under the name of Polypody, 

 (Polypodium,) Brake, (Pteris,) Spleen wort, (Asplenium,) 

 Shield Fern, (Aspidium,) &c. 



GENUS Polypodium. Polypody. Name from the Greek, 

 signifying many, zndfoot, in allusion to its multitude of roots. 

 The genus consists of many species, some of them noble 

 plants, growing from three to five feet high. 



The common Polypody, (Polypo- Fig. 208. 



dium, vulgare,} is a handsome Fern, 

 which is common among rocks, and 

 in shady places ; fronds deeply pin- 

 natifid, and about a foot long ; stipe 

 smooth and grooved on the upper side, 

 sori naked and solitary ; leaflets or 

 segments of the frond, slightly ser- 

 rate, and gradually shorter towards 

 the upper end, as in Fig. 208. This 

 plant is common to Europe and 

 North America. 



GENUS Osmunda. Flowering Fern. Name from Osmun- 

 da, a Celtic divinity, the representative of force, because 

 this plant was supposed to have potent qualities as a medicine. 

 Three species of this genus are found in our woods, often 

 growing together. Tall, or Woolly Osmunda, (Osmunda tin- 

 namomea,) is a noble Fern, growing three or four feet high. 

 " The fertile frond is covered with a substance resembling 

 wool, of a cinnamon color, from which it derives its specific 

 name. The little seed vessels of the Osmunda genus, when 

 examined by a microscope, are seen to be half bivalved, or 

 resemble in form a sleigh bell." 



GENUS Ophioglossum. Adder's tongue. Name from the 

 Greek ophis, a serpent, andglosse, a tongue. Com- Fi s- 209> 

 inon Adder's tongue, (Ophioglossum vulgatum,) is a 

 little neat looking plant, with an ovate frond, con- 

 sisting of one green lanceolate simple leaf, from 

 the base of which there grows a stipe, bearing the 

 truit in a kind of spike. The whole plant is only 

 two or three inches high, and differs widely in ap- 

 pearance from all its associates. It is well repre- 

 sented by Fig. 209. 



