FERN FAMILY. 863 



VI. OPHIOGLOSSA-CE^, the ADDEE'S-TONGUE FAM- 

 ILY: mostly rather small ferns, with sessile, globular, coriaceous 

 opaque and smooth spore-cases, opening transversely into 2 valves, 

 and wholly destitute of a ring. Fronds not rolled up in the bud, 

 as they are in all the foregoing, rising from a very short rootstock 

 or eorm, with fleshy roots. 



29. BOTEYCHIUM. Spore-oases in pinnate or compound spikes, distinct. SterUe 



part of the frond compound ; veins free. 



30. OPHIOGLOSSUM. Spore-cases cohering in a simple spike. Sterile part of 



&ond simple in our species j the veins reticulated. 



1. ACROSTICHUM § CHRYSODIUM. (From Greek words meaning 

 o TOW at the top, the application not evident. ) AH tropical. 



A. aiireum. A large evergreen Fern, along the coast of South Florida ; 

 the fronds simply pinnate, coriaceous; pinnae 4' -6' long, l'-2' wide, elliptical 

 or oblong-Knear. 



2. PLATYCEBIUM, STAG-HORN FERN. (Name from the Greek, 

 meaning broad horns.) Natives of Africa, Australia, &c. : cult, in conservar- 

 tones. 



P. alcicdrne. Sterile fronds sessile, rather thin, flat and rounded, over- 

 lapping each other ; fertile ones erect, 1° high, whitish and minutely downy 

 beneath, 2-3 times forked, with divisions about 1' wide, the topmost ones 

 fruitful. 



3. ^OLYPODIUM, POLYPODY. (Name in Greek means many-footed, 

 referring to the branching rootstock.) An immense genus, found in all parts 

 of the world. 



§1. PoLTPODiuM proper. Veins free : the folio-wing all native. 



P. VUlgare, Common Polypody. Rocky places N., small, simply pin- 

 natifid, evergreen, smooth both sides, 4' -10' high, l'-3'wide, the numerous 

 divisions oblong-linear ; fruit-dots rather large. 



p. incknuin. Shady places S., often on trees ; much like the last, but 

 much SHfaller, and beneath grayish and scurfy with peltate scales ; fruit-dots 

 rather small. 



§ 2. CAMPYLONEtrRON. Veins parallel, pinnate from the midr\b, connected by 

 numerous transverse angularly arched veinlets, with short fruit-bearing vein- 

 lets proceeding from the angles. 



P. Phyllitidis, Hahts-tongue, of Tropical America; frond simple, 

 linear-lanceolate, l°-lj° long, l'-2' wide, thinly chartaceous, smooth and 

 shining ; fruit-dots in 2 rows between the veins. 



§ 3. NiPHdBOLUS. Veins much as in the preceding, but very obscure and closdy 

 reticulated. Fronds simple, of a thickish texture, covered on both sides with 

 a close stellate down. 



P. Iilngua. Cult, from Japan : fronds 4'- 8' long, ovate-oblong or lanceo- 

 late, entire, at length nearly smooth above ; fruit-dots exceedingly numerous, 

 closely arranged in many rows. 



§ 4. Phleb6dh7M. Veins reticuhUed, with free veinlets included in the larger 

 meshes. Fruit-dots in 1-3 rows between the midrib and margin, commonly 

 placed each one on the connerging ends of a pair of veinlets. 

 P. a'dreum. A large showy Fern of Florida, and cult, from West Indies ; 

 fronds on a stout stalk, broadly ovate in outline, smooth, pale green above, 

 glaucous beneath, pinnately parted into 5 - 9 or more oblong-linear or lanceo- 

 late spreading divisions. 



