602 LYCOFODIACE^. (CLUB-MOSS FAMILY.) 



2. B. VirginiClim, Swartz. Sterile frond sessile above the. middle of the 



Stnlk of the fertile one, tcrnate ; the short-stalked primary divisions once or twice 

 pinnate, and then once or twice pinnatiiid, thin, the lobes cut-toothed towards 

 the apex, oblong ; fructification mostly 2-pinnate : plant ]-2 c high, or often 

 reduced to 5' -10', when it is B. gracile, Pursh. Rich woods; common. 

 July, Aug. (En.) 



Var. 1 simplex (B. simplex, IFttchcock) appears to be a remarkably de- 

 pauperate state of this, only 2 r - 5' high ; the sterile frond reduced to a single 

 short-stalked division, and simply or doubly pinnatifid, the kbes obovate or 

 oblong, thinner, and the veins more perceptible than in the European B. Luna- 

 ria. "VV. New England, New York, and northward. 



20. OPHIOGLOSSUUI, L. ADDER'S-TOKGUE, (Tab. 13.) 



Frond a naked stalk rising straight, bearing a lateral sterile portion resembling 

 in form an entire leaf with finely reticulated immersed veins, and a simple 

 terminal spiko, on the edges of which the opaque and coriaceous sessile veinless 

 sporangia are closely packed, in 2 ranks, all more or less coherent together, so 

 as to appear necklace-jointed, transversely 2-valved. Spores copious, sulphur- 

 color. (Name compounded of oc/u?, a serpent, and yXwacra, tongue.) 



1. O. ViiJsfatmii, L. Sterile frond (in the N. American form) obovate 

 or ovate with a tapering sessile base (l'-3' long), and mostly borne below the 

 middle of the stalk of the fertile spike. Bogs and meadows: not common. 

 June. (Eu.) 



CEDEB 187. L.YCOPODIACE.E. (Cmu-Moss FAMILY.) 



Low plants, usually of Moss-like aspect, tvith their solid and often woody 

 steins thickly clothed with sessile awl-shaped or lanceolate persistent and sim* 

 pie leaves j bearing the 2-4-valved zpore-cases sessile in their axils; repre- 

 sented by only two genera. 



1. I^YCOPdDIUMt, L., Spring. CLUB-MOSS. (Tab. 14.) 



Spore-cases of one kind (sporangia, much like those of Ophioglossum, only 

 larger), coriaceous, flattened, usually kidney-shaped, 1-celled, opening by a trans- 

 verse line round the margin, thus 2-valved, discharging the subtile spores in the 

 form of a copious sulphur-colored inflammable powder. Perennials, with ever- 

 green 1-nerved leaves, imbricated or crowded in 4-16 ranks. (Name compound- 

 ed of XUKOP, a wolf, and Trows- , foot, from no obvious resemblance.) 



1. Sporangia scattered in the axils of the ordinari/ and uniform (dork-green and 



shining, riijid, about 8-ranked) leaves. 



1. JL. lllCtdllllllll, Michx. Stems thick, 2 or 3 times forked, the branches 

 ascending (6' -12' high); leaves widely spreading cr rejlexed, linear-lanceolate, 

 acute, minutely toothed. Cold, damp woods; common northward, r nd south- 

 ward along the higher Alleghanies. August. 



