554 Filtces—Ophioglossum. 
16. OPHIOGLOSSUM. 
Rootstock with fleshy fibrous roots. Frond oblong-lanceo- 
late, with a simple fertile spike attached to it, much in the way 
of the spathe and spadix of the Aroulew. Spore-cases confluent, 
globose, arranged in a distichous spike. There are about four 
widely-distributed species. Name from édus, a snake, and 
yAwooa, a tongue, in allusion to the fertile spike. 
1. O. vulgatwum. Adder’s Tongue.—This curious little plant 
is very distinct from all other Ferns. The single frond is from 3 to 
9 inches high, with a blade from 2 to 4 inches long, and varying 
from ovate-oblong to lanceolate. There are two forms—vulgatum 
proper, with ovate fronds and long fertile spikes; and Lusi- 
tanicum, With narrow lancevlate fronds and spikes less than 
an inch long. The former is not uncommon in pastures and 
woods, and it is also common in the temperate regions of the 
north and south. 
17. BOTRYCHIUM. 
This genus differs from the last in its pinnate or bipinnate 
fronds and compound panicle of clustered spore-cases. There 
are six species, from temperate and tropical regions. The name 
is derived from Pétpus, a cluster, the form of the inflorescence. 
1. B. Lundria. Moonwort.—Frond fleshy, about 4 or 6 
inches high, pinnate, with lunate, crenate, or pinnatifid pinne. 
A widely distributed plant, but not so frequent in Britain as 
its ally the Adder’s Tongue. 
The remaining orders of this division are seantily, if at all, 
represented in gardens, except under glass. We have several 
native species of the Lycopodiccecr, five belonging to the genus 
Lycopodium, and one to Selaginélla. There is also one hardy, 
or nearly hardy, Japanese species belonging to the latter genus, 
S. involvens. It belongs to the section with dwarf rosulate 
flat. fan-like branches. Of the Equisetacee, the very large 
Horsetail, Equisttum maéximuin, syn. E. Telmateia, deserves 
mention, as it is a grand plant for introducing in damp rich 
soil, where it is not fully exposed to the sun. In favourable 
situations its barren stems rise to a height of 6 or 8 feet. The 
distinct manner of growth peculiar to this genus, in which the 
lateral branches are arranged in whorls one above the other 
from a sheathed jointed stem. is sufficient to entitle it to a place 
in the gardens of the curious, 
