266 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 
allies the sporangia are developed each from a little 
cluster of superficial cells. 
Upon this difference botany divides the ferns 
and their nearest of kin into two great groups. 
The adder’s-tongues (Ophioglossacez) belong to 
the smaller and older of these groups—the Euspor- 
angiatee. They are feeble descendants of a very 
ancient and once powerful and numerous family 
and are distantly related to the great ferns of the 
coal measures, which were also Eusporangiatez. 
But the majority of our native ferns are not, as 
is so often asserted, the depauperate progeny of a 
doughty race. They are ‘‘ Leptosporangiatez,’’ and 
form their sporangia each from a single cell. This 
is the more modern method, and is followed by the 
younger branch of the fern family (Filicinz). 
The great majority of our native ferns belong to 
a younger branch of this younger branch, the Poly- 
podiacez, which, as we know from the testimony of 
the rocks, did not make their appearance till within 
comparatively recent times. They have multiplied 
and have taken possession of the land, setting 
aside the law of primogeniture as Jacob did of old. 
The disinherited Eusporangiateze are represented 
in our country only by the moonworts and the 
adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). There 
