FERNS. 
[ Ophioglossum . 
<J6 
OPHIOGLOSSUM, Linn. ADDER’S- TONGUE. 
(From ofi;, a serpent, and y\ocraa, a tongue.) 
A, fertile and barren frond of Ophioglossum vulgatum. B, fertile frond 
after it has shed its spores. C, cuticle. D, transverse section of the stem. E, 
root and vernation. F, spores. 
This genus bears its fruit in a simple spike attached to a leafy frond. The 
thecae are connected not only to each other, but attached by their whole base to 
the stem which bears them ; when ripe they open transversely. There are twelve 
foreign species of this genus, inhabitants of Europe and North America. 
OPHIOGLOSSUM VULGATUM. 
COMMON ADDER’s-TONGUE. 
(Plate 7, fig. 3.) 
Cha. — Frond entire, solitary, ovate, obtuse. 
Syn. — Ophioglossum vulgatum of most Boianists. — Ophiog. ovatum, Salisb. 
Fig. — E. B. 108. — Bolt. 3. — Flo. Lon. 78. — Flo. Dan. 147. — Ger. 404. — 
Sckh. 153.— Newm. p. 103. 
Des. — Root composed of a few stout, yellow, smooth fibres, 
running horizontally. Frond of one entire, upright leaf, ovate, 
blunt, 2 to 6 inches high, of a lurid green color. Stem tapering 
downwards, and hollow. Fruit in a single, unbranched, stalked, 
and pointed spike, connected with the leafy expansion. Theca? 
yellow, opaque, sessile, in two single rows, connected with each 
other, so that after the round, smooth, yellow seeds are dispersed, a 
number of transverse clefts are seen along each side of the spike. 
Sometimes found with more than one spike, at other times the leaf- 
like frond is deeply cleft at the top. 
Vir. — It is considered by the country people as valuable to form an ointment 
for wounds, and for this purpose is gathered by baskets-full ; for be it observed 
that in some parts of the country it is almost as abundant as the herbage 
among which it grows. 
Sit. — In meadows and moist pastures in most parts of the kingdom. (See 
Introduction.) 
II a b — S co. : Dalmeny Woods, near Edinburgh, Mr. W. Brand. Orkney, 
Rev. C. Clouston. Balmuto, Miss Boswell. Carlowrie, Mr. Falconer. Eng : — 
Middleton-one-row, Durham, Mr. 11. Bowman. Round Howe, near Richmond, 
Yorkshire, Mr. J. Ward. West Felton, Salop, Mr. W. Leighton. Warwick- 
shire, Rev, W. Bree. Field behind Heawood Hall, Alderley, Cheshire, Mr. H. 
