I 



THE COMMON* HARTS-TONGUE FERN; 



these portions having the short distinct teeth or the shallow lol>cs of the poiytchidts typo, while here ami 

 there other portions grow out to thy normal width, and form blunt, rounded, or oblong projecting lobes, 

 or entire normal spaces of greater length. Sometimes the apex, or the base, or one side only, of the 

 frond is aflcctcd ; the example figured showing an instance in which the altered portions are less broken 

 up than usual. Scarcely two fronds are alike, but the fronds are nearly always affected. It has been 

 found in North Lancashire by Mr, Wollaston, in Yorkshire by Mr. Clnphaw, and in Devonshire by tho 

 Rev. J. M. Chanter- 



17. irrcfpdarc (Jt); TUfa is one of those unaccountable freaks of nature which is at one time in its 

 natural growth, and then in its most fantastic; or the two conditions may be combined on the same 

 plant The abnormal frond* are irregularly lobate, with erenated or incised lobes, somewhat undulate, 

 often forked, and altogether irregular. It is hut sparingly fertile in the abnormal state- It was found 

 in Guernsey by Mr. C. Jackson, and is only a sub-pemmnent form. 



18. corrugatum <\V.) presents a combination of tho characteristics of rarutbite (39) and crispum (46), 

 having fronds beautifully undulated, but also deeply cut into auriculate lobes on the margin, in a very 

 irregular manner. The venation is slightly reticulate. Found in Sussex by Mr Wollaston in 1854. 



19. pocittif&mm (M.). A large irrcgularly-lobcd form, stout and rigid in texture, often forked, and 

 somewhat supra-marginatc ; its chief peculiarity, however, is the production on iU under surface, 

 of irregularly -placed cup-shaped or rather trumpet-sha]>ed excrescences, frequently a quarter of an inch 

 in length. It was sent to us from Guernsey by Mr. J. James, of Van vert 



20. submnryimUum (W.). This form comprises several modifications, in which the fronds, various 

 in character, sometimes bifurcate, more rarely ramose, are only partially marginate: tho perfect 

 fronds are submarginate, that is, with their margins partially disrupted, crenato-lobatc, especially 

 towards the apex, supra-sorlferous ; tlic imperfect fronds sometimes similar to the perfect ones on one 

 side of the racbis, and on the other narrow and trebly dentate; others arc truncate, submarginate, 

 and obliquely coroute ; and others again abortive, having nothing but a short scaly stipes without any 

 of the leafv portion. This form was found in Sussex, in 1854, by Mr. Wollaston ; in Ireland by Dr. 

 Allchin ; in Guernsey, by Mr. C. Jackson ; and in the Isle of Wight, by Mr. It. Tiloxam. 



21. xiciforme (W.), This is, perhaps the most slightly marginate of the varieties referred to tho 

 marginatum group. The fronds, which arc rarely a foot long arc lancc-shnpcd, laterally wared or 

 subflexuose, slightly crenate, and obsoletely, though continuously, marginate beneath. They arc also 

 supra- sorifcrous, that is, the fructification protrudes itself to the face of the frond, but tho upper sori 

 arc very small. The base of the frond is rarely auriclcd, and tho whole plant has a very unusual 

 appearance- It was found in Guernsey by Sir. G\ Jackson, in 1854, and is doubtless a constant form. 



22. microdon (M.) is a small form, possessing many of the characteristics of submtrginalum (20), 

 but having the apex of the frond multifid. Its chief peculiarity is tho minutely sulcate portion of the 

 frond immediately below the forking. Found in Ireland by Dr. Allchin, in 185.1, and quite constant 



23. conlractum (\V.). This variety resembles submarffinatum (20) in size and in its submarginate frond, 

 and microdon (22) in its multitidapcx. It has been named mntraettnn on account of having its fronds 

 drawn in or waist-Hkc just below their denscly-multifid apices; the mass of veins which have to 

 pass this contracted [lortion, become protruded or ridged, giving that part the appearance of being 

 supra-lineatc. This also was found in Clare, Ireland, by Dr. Allchin, in 1853, and is permanent 



24. marginatum (M.). This is the type and most remarkable form of the marginate group, and although 

 but recently noticed, must have been long known, as a garden specimen received from the younger Linn reus 

 is in Sir J. K. Smith's Herbarium. Several snbforms are known in cultivation, of which the most marked 

 in character is thus described in our Handbook of British Ferns : "Tho fronds grow erect a foot or 

 more in heigh t> and stand in a circle round the crown; they are simple strap-shaped, tho margin 

 irregularly lobed, tho under surface producing within the margin an excurrent membrane, which is also 

 lobed, Hoth surfaces of this membrane, and the under surface of the frond itwlf exterior to it, are 







