COMMON ADDER'S TONGUE. 61 



is the island of Guernsey, although it has long been 

 known as a native of the South of Europe. It arrives 

 at perfection in January. Its very early fructification 

 and minute size suggest the cause of its being long 

 overlooked in the spot where it is now found, and 

 render it possible that it may also have escaped notice 

 in other localities. 



COMMON ADDER'S TONGUE. 



V 



OPHTOGLOSS UM VULGA TUH. 



[Linnaeus, and generally adopted.] 

 (Fig. 27.) 



THIS is a curious species of fern, reminding one, in 

 its mode of growth, more of the little plant known by 

 the name of " Cuckoo Pint," or " Lords and Ladies" 

 Arum maculatum of botanists than of a true fern. 

 It is a small stemless plant, from three to nine inches 

 high. The barren frond, which appears like a single 

 green leaf, smooth, ovate, obtuse, with veins forming a 

 distinct network, seems to inclose the stem or rachis 

 of the fertile frond, which is an upright spike tapering 

 towards the summit, and consisting of two lines of 

 crowded spore-cases buried in the substance of the 

 spike. When ripe, this spike opens and the pollen is 

 discharged, so that the spike eventually resembles a 

 double row of round empty cavities. 



