THE FERN BULLETIN 



71 



limestone is being blasted out for commercial purposes. 

 The ferns may not be molested for some time to come 

 as the cement plant is cutting into the mountain on the 

 right of the ravine while the haunt of the fern is far 

 up near where the sandstone sets in on the left of the 

 ravine. YVe can only hope that this haunt of an already 

 rare fern may in some was escape being disturbed. 

 Long Island, Ala. 



THE EFFECT OF HABITAT ON OPHIOGLOSSUM. 



By Willard N. Clute. 



Whenever I am asked to examine a collection of the 

 various species of Ophioglossum there comes to mind 

 the observations of Hooker in regard to our common 

 species. After many years of study, in which he had 

 an opportunity to see Ophioglossums from all parts of 

 the world, he gave it as his opinion that Ophioglossum 

 vulgatum is widely distributed, and that the differ- 

 ences presented by specimens from widely separated 

 regions, are only such as might be expected in view 

 of the great diversity of habitat in which the plants 

 grow. With this opinion, we have long been in accord 

 and tlrs impression is only deepened by the lamina- 

 ton of additional material. 



A few years ago, it was suggested that several 

 forms of this plant in North America should be 

 raised to specific rank, and one or more were thus re- 

 corded as specifically distinct from 0. vulgatum but 

 such work could only have been commended by those 

 bent on finding differences rather than resemblances. 

 The distinctions have never been accepted by the 

 majority of American students. 



The whole subject is brought forcibly to mind by 

 the receipt of several sheets of Ophioglossum vul- 



