THE COMMON HARTS-TONGUE FERN. 



Fructificufion dispersed over the back of the frond,* most abundant upwards. S&ri linear, oblique, 

 unequal in length, twin, that is, growing in pairs, the two contiguous imrallcl sori borne on the posterior 

 ami anterior vcinlcts of adjacent fascicles of veins, and becoming continent into one broad linear mass. 

 Indwium also double, narrow, entire, the two opening face (o face, at first conniving, at length separating 

 down the centre of the twin sorus, finally pushed back and hidden by the sporc-casca Sporccasw 

 numerous, obovatc, reddish-brown. Spores roundish or oblong, muriculate. 



Duration. The eaudcx is perennial. The frond* ore persistent, the young ones being produced in 

 April, and remain long after others succeed them ; the plant is therefore strictly evergreen. 



The common HartVTongue is at once known from all other British Ferns by its long strap-shaped 

 succulent-looking fronds; and technically by its linear twin sori. It* varieties arc endless. Those wo 

 have thought deserving of botanical recognition arc to Ins considered rather as types of variation 

 than as individual forms, comprising a series of analogous subvarictics, which, however, being jwrraa- 

 nent and easily cultivated, arc individually prized as garden ornaments. We omit any lengthened 

 description of them on this account, and also because they will bo included in the following notes 

 on the whole of the forms or subvaricttcs at present known, which have been obligingly drawn up by 

 Mr, Wollaston, of Chislehurst, whose own collection contains one of the most extensive series of them. 

 The principal private collections of living Scolopcndriums, known to us, besides that just mentioned, are 

 those of Dr. Allcliin, of Bayswater; Mr Cray, of Hammersmith; Mr Claphani, of Scarborough; 

 Mr. James and Mr. Jackson, of Guernsey; the Itcv. J. M. Chanter, of llfracombc ; and Sir \V. C. 

 Trevelyan.of Ncttlecombe ; to whom, and to many other correspondents, we are indebted for specimens. 



1. polijschides (Ray). This old and familiar variety, known to the illustrious Ray, and named iu 

 allusion to the numerous deep incisions on tho margin of the frond— known also amongst gardeners 

 under the name of nngmti/olium, in allusion to its narrow fronds— is taken as the ty|>o of a group in 

 which the fronds are more or less incised on their margins, but not in the least degree marginate, (that 

 is, having the epidermis disrupted). The fronds in this variety are linear strap-shaped, slightly undulate, 

 irregularly crenato-lobatc, with the margin crenately-toothed ; it is fertile, and the masses of spore- 

 cases often protrude between the incisions to the face of the frond. The venation is hero and there 

 reticulate* It is remarkably constant under cultivation, and universally reproduces itself from its 

 spores. Its early history is lost. The late Mr. D. Cameron found it near Bristol ; a form almost 

 identical has been met with by the Rev. J. M. Chauter, near llfracombc, Devonshire; and Sir W. 

 Hooker has a specimen from Lismorc. 



2. macfosormn (Fee) is similar to polyschidcs, but the fronds arc somewhat broader, and the margin 

 is more frilled with an undulated series of bluiitish teeth, which are deeper and more evident than in the 

 variety just named. It has the same kind of deep occasional incisions, but they are less manifest, being 

 hidden by the undulation of the maigiE : the baw id truncate ; the venation ifl normal, and the aori 

 short oblong. Tho best grown form is of exotic origin, having been received from Bolwyllcr, but a very 

 similar one has been found in Guernsey, in 1855, by Mr. James. It is quite constant and very neat 



3. jUsttm (M.) is a large, vigorous, and graceful form, in character resembling the two preceding, but 

 Uie fronds are larger and broader, and usually blunt-ended : the margin is deeply incised and somewhat 

 undulate, so that the incisions are not very evident, the whole being crenatcly toothed : the veins are 

 slightly netted ; ami the sori grow in oval-oblong masses. It was found near Ncttlecombe in Somerset- 

 shire, in 1852, by Sir W. C. Trevelyan, and similar forms have been gathered near Denbigh, by 

 Mr. T. Pritchard ; and in Guernsey by Mr. C. Jackson. It is permanent, handsome, and rather rare. 



•TLe fnialri-nt™ of Krot<yf**Jn a n I* normally dorml, tu in thereof tho Polypodiacow, A vervfurioM* donation from thU law, horcrvr, OCCOfl 



in Mrrnl of the i-nrictitt, tho tori boing produced, and aomeliinri nbumhuitly, on the iinper ft* well at tho Wit *ur£*n\ Tbi* toiiictuuc* happen* from 

 the elongation of the aori of the imtlrriulo wWh eatend lo the margin nod return on tho upper Mile, (be tori in the*.* eaaoa btaitg generally opposite 



tho martini! crvnaluiv*. Hut it ntao frequently hai>|»erm thai a •aw* U produced on tW upper aid* Jiitinctly within the margin. and where llicro 



iaaaoorrcfponilingiHirxia benoatk TbOM fuiotitt which bai* tho margin iti-u.iv.. I or lobed nro mwt liable to MMM thU Abnormal tuprn«orifen>«i» 

 exilian. TV aame dctintion from the normal ttmcluro i* knuuii to occur in a few other fern*. 





riu 



