39 
OPHIOGLOSSUM YULGATUM. Li^^us. 
(Adder's Tongue.) 
Derivation of Name. From opliios a serpent, and glossa, 
a tongue; the fertile branch resembling an adder’s tongue. 
SYNONYISIES. 
Linnaeus and all our modern botanists have adhered to the 
present name. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Caudex very short with fleshy roots, “from some of which 
a new plant will sometimes sjiring.” — Moore. 
Frond compound, consisting of a barren and fertile 
branch ; the barren portion consists of one ovate leaf from 
the base of which springs the fertile branch, being the stalked 
spike of spore cases which is usually much larger than the 
barren portion and sometimes forked. It springs about 
April and soon withers with the hot weather of summer. It 
grows from one inch to ten inches high. 
Veins compound, covering the whole of the barren leaf. 
Spore Cases arranged along each side of the fertile spike 
and when matiu’e opening transversely and discharging the 
spores. 
The only variety of this fern found in this district is that 
with the spike forked. 
