266 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



allies the sporangia are developed each from a little 

 cluster of superficial cells. 



Upon this difference botany divides the ferns 

 and their nearest of kin into two great groups. 



The adder's-tongues (Ophioglossacese) belong to 

 the smaller and older of these groups the Euspor- 

 angiatese. They are feeble descendants of a very 

 ancient and once powerful and numerous family 

 and are distantly related to the great ferns of the 

 coal measures, which were also Eusporangiateae. 



But the majority of our native ferns are not, as 

 is so often asserted, the depauperate progeny of a 

 doughty race. They are ll Leptosporangiatese, " and 

 form their sporangia each from a single cell. This 

 is the more modern method, and is followed by the 

 younger branch of the fern family (Filicinae). 



The great majority of our native ferns belong to 

 a younger branch of this younger branch, the Poly- 

 podiaceae, which, as we know from the testimony of 

 the rocks, did not make their appearance till within 

 comparatively recent times. They have multiplied 

 and have taken possession of the land, setting 

 aside the law of primogeniture as Jacob did of old. 



The disinherited Eusporangiateae are represented 

 in our country only by the moonworts and the 

 adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). There 



