168 
TEE COMMON MOONWORT. 
Of the Ophioglossacej! there are two British genera 
—- Botrychium or Moon wort, and Ophioglossum or 
Adder’s Tongue, readily known from each other by 
their external features. Both genera have two* 
branched fronds, one branch looking like the leaf 
and the other like the flower; but they differ obvi¬ 
ously in this, that Botrichium has its branches 
branched again, while those of Ophioglossum are 
simple and undivided. 
The roots and caudex (or root-stem) of Botrychium 
differ essentially, says Mr. Newman, from those of 
the “ True ” Ferns. “ The roots are stout, succulent, 
and brittle. The caudex is about the same size as the 
roots, perhaps rather stouter; it descends perpen¬ 
dicularly, and the roots issue from it at right angles- 
Before the plant bas felt the influence of spring, the 
frond exists in a quiescent state, but perfectly formed- 
It then appears like a simple stem, scarcely an inch in 
length, and perfectly erect. On a closer inspection the 
component parts of the future frond will be clearly 
perceived; the stipes is swollen, and rather stouter 
than the upper part, the two branches of which face 
each other, the fertile branch of the frond being 
clasped by the barren or leafy part; and the fructifi¬ 
cation being thus entirely concealed, the uppermos 
pinnae are incurved, as if to give still farther protection 
to the fruit. The whole is invested and completely 
enclosed in scale-like alternate sheaths, doubtless the 
decaying stalks of many previous years. As the spring 
advances, the frond rapidly increases in size, until in 
April it makes its appearance above ground, and iu 
