6<i 
FERNS. 
[ Ophioglossum. 
OPHIOGLOSSUM, Linn. ADDER’S TONGUE. 
(From o0t£, a serpent, and y\uiooa, 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 leafg frond. The 
thecai 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 VII, fig. 3.) 
Cha. — Frond entire, solitary, ovate, obtuse. 
Syn. — O phioglossum vulgatum of most botanists. — Ophiog. ovatum, Salisb. 
Fig. — E. B. 10 8.— Bolt. 3.— Flo. Lon. 78.— Flo. Ban. 147.— Ger. 404.— Schk. 
153. — Newm. p. 103. 
Des. — Root composed of a few stout, yellow, smooth fibres, run- 
ning horizontally. Frond of one entire, upright leaf, ovate, blunt, 
2 to (i inches high, of a lurid green colour. Stem tapering down- 
wards, and hollow. Fruit in a single, unbranched, stalked, and 
pointed spike, connected with the leafy expansion. Thecae 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. Some- 
times found with more than one spike, at other times the leaf-like 
frond is deeply cleft at the top. 
Vir.— I t is considered by the country people as valuable to form an ointment 
for wounds, and for this purpose is gathered by basketfuls ; for be it observed 
that in some parts of the country it is almost as abundant as the herbage among 
which it grows. 
Sit.— I n meadows and moist pastures in most parts of the kingdom. (See 
Introduction.) 
IIab.— Scot.: Dalmeny Woods, near Edinburgh, Mr. W. Brand. Orkney, 
Rev. C. Clous ton. Balmuto, Miss Boswell. Carlowrie, Mr. Falconer. — Eng. : 
Middleton-one-row, Durham, Mr. R. Bowman. Round Howe, near Richmond, 
orksliire, Mr, J. Hard. West Felton, Salop, Mr, IV, Leighton. Warwick- 
shire, Rev. IV. Bree. Field behind Heawood Hall, Aldcrley, Cheshire, Mr. //. 
