OPHIOGLOSSAOE^. — PHTHOflLOSSE^. OXXT. 



serial along eaoli margin of the oompresBed spike, with which 

 they are connate, horizontal, globose, bursting ia two equal 

 hemispherical yalves. Vi^ns uniformly reticulated in roundish 

 or elongated hexagonal areoles, sometimes from an indistinct 

 costa, occasionally obscure ; the ultimate areoles with or without 

 included iree veinlets. 



Pronds sub-earnose two- or many- branched, the sterile branch 

 simple dichotomoualy parted or palmato-lobate, the fertile simple ; 

 sometimes the fronds simple, the fertile and sterile distinct and 

 dissimilar. Ehizome fleshy, sub-globose or short cylindrioal- 

 OTate. 



§ SuopMoglossum. — ^Fertile spikes solitary; sterile branches ovate or 

 linear. 



Ex. : O. vulgatum, Zin. | O. reticulattun, I/in. 



O. luBitanicum, Lin, 0. bulbosum, JfieA. 



0. pedonculosum, Veav. \ 0. Wightii, JHbofc and Cfr. 



§ OpUoderma. — Fertile spikes solitary; sterile branches fasciEeform, di- 

 chotomous or sometimes undivided. 

 Ex. : O. pendulum, Zin. | 0. intermedium, Sook. 



§ EhizoglossTtm. — Sterile and fertile fronds distinct. 

 Ex, : 0. Bergianum, Sehlech. 

 § Chevrogloimm. — Fertile spikes several from the margin of the sterile 

 branch, at its base. 

 Ex. : O, palmatum, Jjvn. 



Order— JSXGOVODIXGEM. 



§ 1 Phtllo&losseje. 



177. PHYLLOGLOSSUM, Kmze,Bot. Zeit.rSAZ.liA, 

 with fig. 



Ltcopodii sp.. Spring. 



Spore-cases (antheridia) one-celled, two-valved, opening by a 

 transverse vertical cleft, reniform, sessile and solitary in the axils 

 of bracts which are collected into a short pedunculated spike. 

 Spores numerous, very minute. 



A dwarf herb, with orchidiform tubers, and a few simple fibres 

 from the crown. Leaves few subulate, erect, radical, shorter 

 than the erect scape, which is naked below and terminated by a 



