THE 



COMMON ADDER'S TONGUE. 



Ophioglossum vulgatum. LnraraTJS. 



The genus Ophioglossum (Adder's Tongue, from the 

 Greek opJiios a serpent or adder, and glossa a 

 tongue) is the type of the order Ophioglossacese, men- 

 tioned before as differing from the True Ferns in having 

 ringless spore-cases and their spring fronds straightly 

 folded. It differs from Botrychium in having the 

 branches of its two fronds quite simple or undivided, 

 instead of being pinnate and bipinnate as that is. It 

 differs yet more markedly in that 

 its fertile branches are not merely 

 the branched panicles of Botry- 

 chium, but distinct spikes in which 

 the spore-cases are distichous (ar- 

 ranged in two rows opposite to 

 each other), like the florets of 

 many grapes. Yet a third re- 

 markable difference is noteworthy 

 - that while in Botrychium, as 

 already seen, the next year's fronds 

 are found within the bases of the 

 growing stems, in Ophioglossum a 

 bud is developed by the side of 

 this year's frond. 



There are two British species 

 of Ophioglossum the Common 

 Adder's Tongue O. cidgatum. 



