I 

 1 



I 



a 



i 



i < 



THE COMMON HARTS-TONGUE FERN. 



state; the lower half equally contracted to less than half the width, deeply crennted, and marginal, 

 the extreme base being again broad so as just to (lovelopo the usual cordate lobes ; both sides being 

 uniformly affected throughout, and strongly margiuate in the contracted parts. Found by Mr. J. James 

 in Guernsey. 



30. mpralineatum (M.) differs from the rest of the margiuate group in having the excurrent membrane 

 confined to the faco or upper surface of the frond. There are several forms of this variety, some with 

 but a email portion of each frond, others with one side only, and others with one or more fronds on a 

 plant, affected. The most marked form (which was obtained from Epcmay) lias the whole plant 

 affected more or less, and when perfect is a very beautiful object. The general outline of the frond 

 is strap-shaped, sometimes but not often multifid; about eight inches long; the margins beautifully 

 but irregularly corrugate till they meet the excurrent membrane, which forms a slightly sinuous line on 

 each side of the rachis, reaching in a well-marked frond from the apex to the base ; the whole thus 

 having tho appearance of a narrow frond of the normal form superimposed on tho variety crispum. It 

 was first brought into notice in this country by Mr. S. F. Gray ; and analogous forms have subsequently 

 been found in Surrey by Dr. Allchin ; in Yorkshire by Mr. A. Clapham ; in tho Isle of Wight by 

 Mr. R. Bloxam ; in Devonshire by the Rev. J. M. Chanter ; in Guernsey by Mr. C. Jackson ; and in 

 Hampshire and Sussex by the Rev. W. M. Hawker and Mr. G. B. Wollaston. It is a rare variety. 



31. muflj/(Ww(W.). This most remarkable and compound form, embraces within itself the peculi- 

 arities of nearly every known form of variation. Its fronds arc multifid, ramose, coruute, subulate, 

 either simple or multifid, marginate, supralincar, corrugate, laciniate, or depauperate, and cannot be 

 better described than by a reference to the varieties indicated by the above epithets. It was found in 

 Guernsey by Dr. Allchiu iu 1849, and is a permanent form, and not now very uncommon. 



32. muricaium (M.). The type of another class of variation, in which the upper surface is developed 

 into ridges or raised points. In this the fronds are normal in outline, coriaceous, the margin hero and 

 there lobed, or slightly sinuous, but the tissue is sunk between the veins producing evident furrows, ami 

 the veins themselves bear two or three elevated points, these points being scattered rather plentifully 

 over the whole frond. It was found in Guernsey, and sent to us by Mr. J. James of Vnnvert 



33. Juffosum (M,). Also found in Guernsey, and communicated by Mr. James and Mr. C. Jackson. 

 Two or three modifications have been met with. Its peculiarity resides in a thickening of the veins 

 which bear sori. resulting in the production of a series of ridges or leafy sorus-like excrescences on the 

 upper surface, and opposite to the sori on tho lower surface, producing a curious ridgy appearance 



34. papillosum <M.). This curious variety devclopes a series of distinct wart-like excrescences side by 

 side, above, on tho veins, near their apices, and forming a border to the up]>cr surface of the frond*, which 

 latter in the specimens wo have seen arc small, and rather narrow, but of normal outline. It was sent 

 from Guernsey by Mr. C. Jackson. 



35. rugosum (Allchin). This variety is marginate at the ai>ex ; the leafy portion of the frond is very 

 short in comparison with the stipes ; it is undulate, crenate, and on the rachis almost cchinate, and at 

 the apex has a curious irregularly-shaped pocket or pouch, formed by the splitting of the epidermis. 

 Tho pouch is fertile, as well as other portions of the frond, and has the rachis generally in its under 

 cuticle. Tho sti|«s is very long and thinly clothed with scales. It was found in Ireland by Dr. Allchin 

 in 1853, and is a permanent and exceedingly rare form. 



36. nudicaulc (Allchin). This rosomblcs rtigosum (35) in many respects, but the fronds are more 

 variable in form and less rugose : some being pocketed, some simple, and others multifid. But the great 

 peculiarity of this form is tho almost total absence of scales— so unusual in Seolopendrium. This is so 

 obvious in iU vernation, that the convolutions of the fronds, which arc to l>e developed for several years 

 to come, arc visible on the crown. This also was found by Dr. Allchin in Ireland, and is very rare. 



37. p&rqferum (W.). This is akin to rugosum (35) and mtdicaul* (36), in having a pouch-bearing apex. 

 It has a scaly stipes, and tho fronds arc undulate and irregular when in character, but they are 



ro-7 







