S'JO adder's tongue. 



Genus. — Ophioglossum. Frond produced annually exterior 

 to the base of the last year's frond : exterior or barren branch 

 a simple undivided spathe ; interior or fertile branch a simple, 

 erect, stalked, pointed spike, in the substance of which two 

 parallel series of large spherical capsules are embedded ; these 

 open by a transverse fissure, giving to the spike a serrated 

 appearance. 



Sx^ecies. — Vulgatum. Stipes erect : fertile branch of frond 

 an erect, club-shaped, pointed spike ; the barren branch an 

 entire ovato-lanceolate leaf. 



Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn. Sp. PI. 1518; Light/. Fl. 



Scot. 651 ; Huds. Fl. Ang. 449 ; Bolt. Fit. Brit. 2, t. 3 ; 



With. Arr. 761 ; Sm. E. F. iv, 330, E. B. 108 ; Mnclt. 



Fl. Hib. 346 ; Franc. 66 ; Neicm. N. A. 30, F. 349, 



Phytol. App. xxxii. ; Hook, and Am. 578; Bab. 417; 



Moore, 218. 

 There are faithful figures of this plant in Grerarde (Ger. Em. 

 404), Bolton (Fil. t. 3), and ' English Botany' (E. B. 108). 



All modern botanists appear to be agreed as to the name of 

 Ophioglossum vulgatum. 



The adder's tongue is a common plant on the continent of 

 Europe, and it is said to occur in almost every part of the 

 world ; but I have been unable to satisfy myself as to the iden- 

 tity or otherwise of the species. 



It is generally distributed over England, and in many places 

 is very abundant, covering acres of meadow-land, and being 

 considered highlj^ injurious to the crop of grass, not only on 

 account of its being disliked by cattle generallj^ but from its 



