236 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
Sub-Order VII. — Ophioglossace^e. 
Genus XXXVII. — Ophioglossum. Linn. 
Fertile segment of the frond simple. A small but almost 
cosmopolitan genus of plants having little resemblance to ferns in 
general outline, and doubtless often overlooked. They are known 
as Adder’s tongue ferns, and different authors have very different 
opinions as to how many species they should be divided into. 
Key to the species. 
§ Fertile and barren fronds distinct to the crown. (Rhizoglossum. Presl.) 
155. O. Bergianum. 
§§ Fertile spike single, arising from the base of the barren segment. 
(Eu-ophioglossum. ) 
156. O. vulgatum. Frond ovate, tapering to the base, with a more or 
less distinct mid -rib. 
157 - O. reticulatum. Frond cordate at the base, veins reticulated, without 
distinct mid-rib. 
155. Ophioglossum Bergianum. Schl. 
Plate CXLIII. Fig. 1. Natural size. 
Crown erect, not bulbous, bearing four to eight fronds ; the 
barren and fertile fronds separate to the base ; barren fronds one 
to three inches long, one-half to one line broad, fleshy, tapering 
below to a narrow yellow stipe ; fertile frond one to one and a half 
inches long, quite linear, with quarter-inch fertile, placed quarter- 
inch or thereby below the point, which is sometimes linear and 
sometimes a flattened lamina. The fertile part has four to eight 
pairs of capsules, placed together. A very distinct little plant, 
collected many years ago as under, but not found since, till this 
year, when it has again been found in four localities near Cape 
Town by Mr. R. Schlechter. 
He finds two forms, the one with a subulate leaf, and the other 
with a lanceolate leaf. 
