Ophioglossum Vulgatum, Linn. 
ADDER’S TONGUE. 
Root — Long, branching, and brittle. 
Fronds — Of two kinds, barren and fertile on one stalk ; the 
barren one being a fleshy, deep green, ovate, pointed leaf, rising 
from a thin succulent stipes. The stipes is about twice the 
length of the frond, and nearly the whole of it is in the earth. 
The spore-bearing frond consists of a narrow, spike-shaped 
tongue, rising from the base of the barren frond, lying 
in the hollow of it, and becoming eventually taller. The 
spike consists of two parallel rows of globular capsules ; 
filled with fine dust like spores, which when ripe burst in 
a similar manner to Botryckium Lunaria. 
Habitat — Pastures and meadow land, common. Mat- 
lock-Bath and other places. 
