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A EEBN BOOE: TOU EVERYBODY. 



ADDUB'S TONGUES. 



The spore-cases arranged on a simple unbranched spike. 



The Adder's Tongues, Moonworts, and Osmunds are 

 classed by botanists in a different natural order from all 

 the other species which we shall enumerate, on account 

 of the spore-cases not being surrounded by an elastic 

 ring. The Adder's Tongues are called Ophioglossum, from 

 two Greek words having that meaning. They have a very 

 difterent habit of growth to other British ferns, and the 

 novice would at first be disposed to doubt their being 

 ferns at all. An upright stalk, with a somewhat club- 

 shaped top, bears the spore-cases, whilst a single leaf is 

 attached to the side of the stem, and in some instances 

 one or more similar leaves proceed from the root-stock. 

 The Adder's Tongues differ from Moonwort and the Eoyal 

 ^"ern in the spike of spore-cases being unbranched and 

 the leaves undivided. 



There are only two British species, which differ con- 

 siderably in size, and this character will be sufficient for 

 our present purpose to distinguish them. Moreover, the 

 lesser Adder's Tongue is only found in the Channel 

 Islands. 



CoMMOis- Adder's Tongue, 6 to 12 inches high. 

 Lessee Adder's Tongue, 2 to 4 inches high. 



ADDER'S TONGUE.^ 



The Adder's Tongue produces annually, from a few 

 coarse root fibres, an erect stem of from 6 to 12 inches in 

 height, terminated by a club-shaped head, in wHch the 

 spore-cases are imbedded in two opposite rows, one on 

 each side of the spike. "When mature, the spore-cases 

 split across the centre, and discharge the enclosed spores. 

 From the side of the erect stipe or stem a barren frond is 

 borne. This barren frond is leaf-like, sheathing the stem 



* Ophiogloasum vidgatum, L. 



