128 OUR XAT/VE FERNS AXD THEIR ALLIES. 



of microspores. Named from Gr. a^eiv, to dry, and oXXvucxi, 

 to destroy. Includes five species. 



1. A. Caroliniana Wiild. Plants f— i' long, reddish or 

 greenish; cuticle of macrospores finely granulate ; masses of mi- 

 crospores with rigid septate processes. New York to Florida, 

 Arizona and Oregon. 



2. A. filiculoides Lam. Fronds i' — 2 long, often erect- 

 crowded; cuticle of macrospores with large discoid tubercles; 

 masses of microspores with rigid processes without septa. La 

 Honda, California, and possibly widely distributed in that state. 



ORDER IV. OPHIOGLOSSACE^ Lindl. 



Plant-body consisting of stem and leaf, usually from a fleshy, 

 sometimes bulbous root, straight or inclined in vernation. 

 Sporangia formed of the interior tissue of the frond, spiked or 

 panicled, naked, not reticulated, destitute of a ring, opening by 

 a transverse slit into two valves discharging copious sulphur- 

 colored spores. Prothallium (so far as known) subterranean, 

 not green, monoecious. Contains three genera. 



L Ophioglossum L. Sporangia cohering in one or more 

 simple spikes. Veins reticulate. 



IL Botrychium Swz. Sporangia in pinnate or compound 

 spikes or panicles. Veins free. 



I. OPHIOGLOSSUM L. Adper-tongue. 



Sporangia large, coriaceous, connate, coherent in two ranks 

 on the edges of a simple spike. Veins anastomosing. Spores 

 copious, sulphur-yellow. Name from Gr. ocpii, a serpent, and 

 yXna-aa, a tongue. Includes ten species, four in our limits. 



§ I. EUOPHIOGLOSSUM. Fertile spikc sitigle, arising from the 

 base of the sterile segtnetit. 



* Sterile portion near the middle of the stalh. 



1. O. vulgatum L. Rootstock short, oblique ; stalk 6' — 12' 

 high, the sterile segment ovate or elliptical-oblong, i|'— 4' long, 

 somewhat fleshy, somewhat narrowed at the base, sessile; fer- 

 tile spike I' or more long. (O. Engelinanni Prsiml.) Ma\nQ to 

 Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Arizona to Alaska. 



** Sterile portion near the base of the stalks. 



2. O. crotalophoroides Walt. Rootstock tuberous, 3"— 5" 



