1 28 OUR NATIVE FERNS AXD THEIR ALLIES. 



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

 to destroy. Includes five species. 



1. A. Caroliniana Willd. Plants f 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. Prothaljium (so far as known) subterranean, 

 not green, monoecious. Contains three genera. 



I. Ophioglossum 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. o<^$, a serpent, and 

 yXoa-a-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" 



