84 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



six in number, spread spider-like from the tube and from this 

 projects a twelve-toothed, funnel-shaped corona bearing the 

 stamens. 



When viewed where nature has fostered their growth, 

 amid the reeds, ferns, flags and tall grasses of the swamp lands, 

 the blooming Pancratiunis with their spreading snow-white 

 perianth and broad stamen-cup, fringed with floating filaments 

 form a feature of the landscape that is in keeping with the 

 almost tropical luxuriance of their surroundings. Masses of 

 the spider lily in bloom are like white pinioned birds in flight, 

 so completely do they cover the rich green foundations above 

 which the tall stalks support them. They are richly perfumed, 

 as lilies are wont to be, and a large quantity near the house is 

 open to the objection of too heavily freighting the air. 



THE ADDER'S TONGUE 



By Adella Prescott. 



TF the adder's tongue {Opliioglussinii zulgafuiu) lacked the 

 distinction of being "not common" there would be little 

 about it to arouse the enthusiasm of the lover of ferns, for it 

 is a small plant with neither g'race nor beaut}^ to attract the eye, 

 but when Gray pronounces a plant "rare" or at least "not 

 common," it does not need to be beautiful in order to be eagerly 

 sought by all who are interested in Nature's handiwork. 



The adder's tongue is a small plant, rarely more than a 

 foot high and generally much less. The sterile portion is ovate 

 and leaf-like with nothing to suggest the grace and delicacy of 

 our more familiar ferns. It may be from two to four inches 

 long' and does not rise far above the grass in which it is likelv 

 to be found. The narrow fruiting spike is from half an inch 

 to two inches or more in length and is considerably taller than 

 the sterile portion. The plant has a short rootstalk with many 



