THE LITTLE ADDERS-TONGUE. 177 



rises from a fleshy, brittle cluster of twisted 

 roots ; but unlike Vulgatum, barren stem and 

 seed-bearing spike, instead of rising some dis- 

 tance together above ground in the form of a 

 stem, before separating into the leafy and the 

 fertile branches, in most instances start separately 

 from the ground. Like its relative Vulgatum, the 

 Little Adders-tongue has a stem to its seed- 

 bearing spike which rises above the barren frond. 

 At the top of the spike begins the fructification ; 

 an arrangement of two rows of cases one on 

 each side of the stalk supporting them. In these 

 cases are the dust-like spores, which, as they ripen, 

 escape through the crevices formed by the splitting 

 of their little prison houses. 



One peculiarity must be noted in the Little 

 Adders-tongue. Vulgatum first sends up its 

 frond in May, from which time it remains 

 until the late summer, when it disappears the 

 root remaining dormant until the succeeding 

 spring; but Lusitanicum starts into life and 

 vitality in dreary January, lasts only a short 

 two or three months, and perishes very early 



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