98 I. — FiLicEs. [Maa-attia 



among the Maories ; it is still eaten, probably only when nothing 

 better can be obtained. <2<Cc^ 2^K<.X/iiy A-^^ «-^./-<sr:zi /^mC^^ <2ys. 

 This fern thrives well under cultivation, but requires protection"^ 

 from frost. It should have a deep loamy soil, with good drainage, 

 but plenty of water. It is readily propagated from the scales of 

 the rootstock, which can be separated and planted much after the 

 manner of potatoes. 



Order II.-OPHIOGLOSSACEJE. 



(The characters of the Order are given at p. 17.) 



Genus I.— OPHIOGLOSSUM,* L. {Adder' s-tongue.) 

 (PI. IV. fig. 3.) 



Stipes solitary, erect, bearing a single frond and a fruiting spike. 

 Frond leaflike, entire, veins netted. Capsules connate, sessile in 2 

 rows along the rachis, bursting transversely. 



Rootstock slightly tuberous. Frond 1-3 in. 



long 1. O. lusitanicum. 



Rootstock not tuberous. Frond 3-12 in. 



long 2. O. vulgatum. 



1. O. lusitanicum, L. 



Rootstock slightly tuberous. Frond 1-3 in. long, the sterile 

 portion J-1 in. long, placed below the centre, linear-lanceolate or 

 oblong to ovate, obtuse, rarely acute, narrowed below, no midrib, 

 veins indistinct ; fertile spike ^J in. long. 



Synonyms. — O. gramineum, Willd. ; O. coriaceum, A. Cunn.; O. 

 minimum, Colenso ; and many others. 



Bistribution. — Southern Europe, Africa, India, Australia. 

 Not uncommon in grassy land throughout both islands of New 

 Zealand. 



2. O. vulgatum, L. (Pi. IV. fig. 3.) 



Rootstock not tuberous. Frond 3-12 in. long, the sterile portion 

 2-4 in. long, f-2 in. broad, placed about the middle, ovate or ovate- 

 oblong, midrib and veins more or less distinct ; fertile spike 1-2 in. 

 long, upon a peduncle about twice as long. 



Synonyms. — O. costatum, R. Br. ; O. elongatum, A. Gwnn. ; &c. 



Distribution. — Over the whole north temperate zone, and extending 

 into India, Africa (to the Cape) and its outlying islands, Java, &c. 

 Also in the Chatham Islands. 



• 6r., Ophiot, of » serpent ; gloesa, the tongue ; from the fruiting spike. 



