THE COMMON MOONWOET 113 



one more change, the change into the appearance of a 

 distinct flower-stalk being yet more marked, so much 

 so as to be not at first sight distinguishable from the 

 stalk of a veritable flowering plant. 



Of the OPHIOGLOSSACE.E there are two British genera 

 Botrychium or Moonwort, and Ophioglossum or 

 Adder's Tongue, readily known from each other by 

 their external features. Both genera have two-branched 

 fronds, one branch looking like the leaf and the other like 

 the flower ; but they differ obviously in this, that Botry- 

 chium has its branches branched again, while those of 

 Ophioglossum are simple and undivided. 



The roots and caudex (or root-stem) of Botrychiwn 

 differ essentially, says Mr. Newman, from those of 

 the "True" Ferns. "The roots are stout, succulent, 

 and brittle. The caudex is about the same size as the 

 roots, perhaps rather stouter ; it descends perpendicu- 

 larly, and the roots issue from it at right angles. Be- 

 fore the plant has felt the influence of spring, the frond 

 exists in a quiescent state, but perfectly formed. It 

 then appears like a simple stem, scarcely an inch in 

 length, and perfectly erect. On a closer inspection the 

 component parts of the future frond will be clearly 

 perceived ; the stipes is swollen, and rather stouter 

 than the upper part, the two branches of which face 

 each other, the fertile branch of the frond being 

 clasped by the barren or leafy part ; and the fructifica- 

 tion being thus entirely concealed, the uppermost pin- 

 nse are incurved, as if to give still farther protection to 

 the fruit. The whole is invested and completely en- 

 closed in scale-like alternate sheaths, doubtless the 



