38 
OPHIOGLOSSUM VULGATUM. 
[From iipts, a serpent or adder, and y\&ssa, glossa, a 
tongue. Vulgatum, common. Hence the English 
name Common Adder’s-tongue. The farmers in this 
neighbourhood usually call it Adder’s-spear, from 
the spear or spike which hears the seed.] 
adder’s-tongtje. adder’s-spear. 
This little plant in many points resembles the Moon- 
wort. From the perpendicular root spring the hori- 
zontal wiry radicles. The stem is succulent, and 
rises to the height of eight or ten inches. About 
half-way up or more, it divides into two fronds. The 
barren one is oval, and not unlike a leaf of the lily 
of the valley. It tends somewhat to a point at top, 
and is traversed by veins which ramify and frequent- 
ly anastomoze. The fertile frond rises erect. Though 
this may look like a seed-bearing stalk, it has as 
much the nature of a frond, or series of fronds on a 
stalk, as what we see in the Osmunda Begalis. A 
reference to the plate shewing the Osmunda, exhibits 
stems bearing seed pods, and even leaves as if half 
converted into seed. Those which are all leaf may 
be termed barren fronds, whilst Botanists have de- 
signated the others fertile fronds. And this mode of 
expression has been applied to the Ophioglossum 
Vulgatum. The stalk of the spike does not bear a 
flower ; it bears a cluster of seed in place of a leaf. 
At its upper part it is contracted into a sort of flat 
stem, on each side of which run a string of small 
beads, or branches bearing them, which are the 
spore cases. They are without the elastic ring. 
When ripe they split open for the emission of the 
seed. 
The Ophioglossum Lusitanicum, or Dwarf Adder’s 
Tongue, has never been found in England. It is 
common in the south of Europe, and has within the 
last few years, been met with in Guernsey. Bota- 
nists have been encouraged to hope that it might be 
found on the South Coast of England. During the 
early part of the year, I have made many diligent 
