FERN FAMILY. "363 



VI. OPHIOGLOSSACE^, the ADDER'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 corm, jvith fleshy roots. 



29. BOTE YCHIUM. Spore-cases in pinnate or compound spikes, distinct. Sterile 



part of tlie frond compound ; veins free. 

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



firond simple in our species ; the veins reticulated. 



1. ACBOSTICHTJM § CHRYSODIUM. (From Greek words meaning 

 o row at the top, the application not evident. ) All tropical. 



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

 the fronds simply pinnate, coriaceous ; pinnse 4' - 6' long, 1' - 2' wide, elliptical 

 or oblong-linear. ' 



2. PLATYCERIITM, STAG-HOKN FERN. (Name from the Greek, 

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

 tories. , 



P. alcic6me. Sterile fronds sessile, rather thin, flat and rounded, over- 

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

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

 fruitful. 



(3. POLTPODIUM, POLYPODY. (Name in Greek means many-fooled, 

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

 of the world. 



\ §1. PoLTPODitTM proper. Veins free : the following aU native. 



^P. vulgare, Common Poltpodt. Rocky places N., small, simply pin- 

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

 divisions oblong-linear ; fruit-dots rather large. 



P. incanum. Shady places S., often on trees ; much like the last, but 

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

 rather small. 



§ 2. CAMPTLOXEtiKON. Veins parallel, pinnate from the midrib, connected hy 

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

 lets proceeding from the angles. 



P. Phyllitidis, Hakts-tongde, of Tropical America ; frond simple, 

 linear-lanceolate, 1° - 1^° long, 1' - 2' wide, thinly chartaceous, smooth and 

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



§ 3. Niph6boi.u9. Veins much as in the preceding, but very obscure and closely 

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

 a close stellate down. 

 P. Lingua. 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. Phleb6dium. Veins reticulated, with free veinlets included in the larger 

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

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

 P. aiireum. 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. 



