44 RATTLESNAKE FERN AND ADDER’S-TONGUE. 
i 
eats eapaly 
WON 
the supposition that they rest in 
alternate years. Something of 
this kind is hinted to exist among 
the adder’s-tongues, and as the 
Botrychiums are closely allied, 
they may have the same habit. 
The name of rattlesnake fern is 
probably due to the likeness 
which may be fancied to exist 
between the spikes of fruit and 
the rattles of the serpent. It 
is sometimes called the grape 
fern, also in allusion to its clus- 
ters of spore-cases, but 
this title more properly 
belongs to a _ related 
species. In the south- 
ern Alleghanies it is fre- 
quently known as “in- 
dicator’’ 
from the 
supposi- 
tion that 
ay its occur. 
ye Fence indi- 
cates the 
proximity 
Hemlock - leaved 
of ginseng. 
moonwort and Virginia moonwort 
are obvious derivations, the true 
moonwort belonging to the Botry- 
chium family. 
RATTLESNAKE FERN, Botrychium Virginianum., 
