Z 2L G * 



' 



128 OUR NATIVE FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES. 



of microspores. Named from Gr. a^eiv, to dry, and oX.Xv/nai, 

 to destroy. Includes five species. 



1. A. Caroliniana Willd. Plants ' i' long, reddish or 

 greenish; cuticle of rnacrospores 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^E 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. 



I. Ophiog-lossum L. Sporangia cohering in one or more 

 simple spikes. Veins reticulate. 



II. Botrychium Swz. Sporangia in pinnate or compound 

 spikes or panicles. Veins free. 



I. OPHIOGLOSSUM L. ADDER-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. ofitS, a serpent, and 

 y\.naro-a, a tongue. Includes ten species, four in our limits. 



. i. EUOPHIOGLOSSUM. Fertile spike single, arising from the 

 base of the sterile segment. 



* Sterile portion near the middle of the stalk. 



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. Engelmanni Prantl.) Maine to 

 Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Arizona to Alaska. 



** Sterile portion near the base of the stalks. 



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



