5 6 THE MOONWORT AND ITS ALLIES. 



times pinnate. The plant often shows a 

 remarkable tendency to double the fertile 

 spike, and specimens with three complete 

 fertile panicles, each on a separate stalk, 

 are not rare. 



The rootstock, as in all the Botrychiums, 

 short and sends out numerous fleshy 

 roots. The base of the living stipe com- 

 pletely encloses the buds for succeeding 

 years. Frequently the buds for four 

 years to come may be discerned. The 

 rootstock is reported 

 to occasionally bear 

 two fronds as the ad- 

 der's-tongue does. 



Throughout most 

 of the grape fern's 

 range, especially near 

 the seaboard, there 

 is an interesting va- 

 riety whose principal 



difference is that the foliage is very finely 

 dissected, the ultimate segments ending 

 in slender Y-shaped divisions, that give it 

 a very fine and lace-like appearance. This 

 was formerly known as the variety dis- 

 sectum but some botanists now incline to 

 give it specific rank. If this is a distinct 

 species, its resemblance to 

 B. obliquum is truly re- 

 markable. It affects the 

 same habitats, fruits at 

 the same time and has the 



COMMON GRAPE FERN. Botryckinm o*li 9 uu m . SamC tHck f Citing Until 



