OPHIOGLOSSACEAE. 9 



16. OPHIOGLOSSUM. Adder Tongue. 

 Rootstock erect and fleshy, with slender fleshy roots; sterile 

 part of leaf somewhat fleshy, simple, entire; veins reticulated; 

 fertile segment simple, unbranched, with two rows of sessile 

 connate sporangia; spores numerous, sulphur-yellow. 



Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Plant 5-40 cm. high, the leaf usually solitary; 

 sterile segment of leaf sessile, oblong to ovate, obtuse, 5-9 cm. long; veins 

 forming a loose network. 



In moist meadows, rare. Falcon Valley, Mount Adams, and in Skamania 

 County, Suksdorf. 



17. BOTRYCHIUM. Grape Fern. 



Rootstock very short, with clustered fleshy roots; sterile part 

 of the leaf ternately or pinnately divided or compound; veins 

 free; fertile segment 1-3-pinnate, each pinnule bearing a double 

 row of sessile sporangia; spores numerous, sulphur-yellow. 



Bud in a cavity at one side of the base of the stem ; leaves thin, 



ternate, then pinnately much divided. B. virginianum. 



Bud inclosed in the base of the stalk; leaves thickish, rather 

 fleshy. 

 Sterile portion of leaf arising near the base of the rather 



large leaf stalk; buds pilose. B. silaifolium. 



Sterile portion of leaf arising near the middle of the usually 

 small leaf stalk; buds glabrous. 

 Green part of leaf oblong, its segments fan-shaped. 



Segments truncate at base, overlapping. B. lunaria. 



Segments cuneate at base, distant. B. onondagense. 



Green part of leaf triangular or ovate, the segments 

 not fan-shaped. 

 Segments lanceolate, acute; midvein continuous. B. lanceolatum. 

 Segments ovate-oblong, obtuse; midvein dissipated. B. ramosum. 



Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw. Rattlesnake Fern. Plant 15-60 cm. 

 high; sterile portion of the leaf above the middle of the stalk, triangular in 

 outline, sessile, delicate in texture, ternate; ultimate divisions numerous, 

 oblong, cut-toothed near the apex. 



Borders of wet meadows, rare in our limits. 



Botrychium silaifolium Presl. Stout, rather fleshy, 10-35 cm. high; stem 

 very short and stout, swollen with the contained bud of the succeeding season; 

 leaves one or two, their petioles stout, 2-12 cm. long; sterile blades 8-20 cm. 

 wide, scarcely as long, ternate, the primary divisions tripinnate or quadri- 

 pinnatifid; ultimate segments obliquely ovate, 1-1.5 cm. long, thick, entire 

 or wavy, the veins few, obscure; sporophyll erect, the petiole stout, the fruiting 

 portion quadripinnate below, gradually simpler above; sporangia numerous, 

 crowded, bright yellow. 



Borders of wet meadows, infrequent. First found by Haenke at Nootka 

 Sound. This is very closely allied to B. ternatum (Thunb.) Sw. and is 

 perhaps better referred as a subspecies to that species which is very variable 

 and occurs throughout the north temperate zone. 



Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. Moonwort. Plant 5-20 cm. high; sterile 

 portion of leaf not stalked, oblong, simply pinnate. 



In mountain meadows, very rare in our limits. Mount Rainier, Smith; 

 Mount Adams, Suksdorf. 



