STUDIES IN FERN LIFE 41 



lunavia) and the Adder' s-tongue {pphioglossiim 

 vulgatum). In both these cases the leaves are 

 very decidedly divided into two parts ; the 

 business of one portion is that of an ordinary 

 frond, whilst the other section is concerned 

 with spore production. These ferns are chiefly 

 to be found growing amongst grass ; the 

 Moonwort seems to prefer a somewhat drier 

 situation than that favoured by the Adder' s- 

 tongue. A very careful search wiU be necessary 

 to find them, however, as they seem to blend 

 to a striking extent with the surrounding vege- 

 tation. The frond of the Moonwort usually 

 appears about the month of April, and at a 

 certain distance from the root-stock it divides 

 into two stems, one barren and the other fer- 

 tile. The barren frond develops into curious 

 sections shaped something like half - moons, 

 whilst in the case of the fertile stalk there 

 are produced divisions bearing clusters of spore 

 cases, which, when ripe, are red brown in 

 colour. The Moonwort sends up but a single 

 leaf each year, and by cutting open the base of 

 the stalk it is possible to discover the frond for 

 the next season, and within this even the leaf 

 for the third year may be discerned. 



