TUB COMMON HARTS-TONGUE FKRN\ 



occasionally normal. The pocket is fertile. This is likewise of Irish origin ; it was found by Dr. Allchin 

 in 1853. aim! has continued constant. 



38. tibrupttnn (W.). The peculiarity of this variety consists in the midvein or rachis rarely reachin" 

 to the apex of the frond, which is blunt and rounded, It also occasionally divides at the summit. In 

 other respects it is normal It was found in Sussex by Mr. Wollaston, in 1854, and is only a sub- 

 permanent variety, some of its fronds resembling those of the next variety. 



30. vartahik (W.>. This, as its name implies, has fronds of various shapes and sizes. It is a 

 Vigorous coarse-growing Fern, and constant under cultivation. The fronds are either normal, branched, 



reniform, or bi-rcniforni, abrupt, and often partially or wholly unite two forms on one stipes. It is 

 abundantly fertile, ami has been found in Guernsey by Dr. Allchin, and Mr. C* Jackson. Another 

 closely allied form, which Mr. Wollaston calls bir&iiforme* connects this with the last In this the stipes 

 generally bears two kidney -shaped lobes ; sometimes the fronds are only forked, the divisions crossing 

 at the apex ; occasionally they are branched, each branch bearing its reniform lobe or lobes. It has been 

 found in Guernsey, Devonshire, and the Islo of Wight, but can hardly l>e considered permanent In 

 some plants found by Mr. Chanter, many of the fronds consisted of two reniform lobes standing so 

 as to give the form of a goblet 



40. polffmorphum (W.) is certainly only a mollification of the same variety, but too unlike it to be 

 left unnoticed. It was found in Sussex by Mr, Wollaston in 1854. The fronds are remarkable for their 

 great breadth compared with their length. They are either normal, multifid, ramose, truncate, or show 

 one or more of these characters combined. Other fronds have a peculiar excrescence on their margin, as 

 if the old fronds were attempting to throw out new ones* It is fertile, constant, and rare 



41. apieilobum (M.). A distinct and marked form, with fronds about three inches long and two 

 broad, widest upwards, the midvein not extending to the end, which is blunt ami rounded in outline, 

 and deeply cut into several obovate lobes. It was found in Guernsey by Mr* J* James. 



42. striatum (M.). Another of Mr. James's discoveries in Guernsey. The fronds are obliquely 

 streaked with yellowish green on a dark green, giving them a distinct variegation. Another variegated 

 form found in Guernsey by Mr. Jackson, which is streaked with yellowish white, is not constant 



43. viviparnm (W.) is one of the most remarkable instances of viviparous growth amongst our British 

 Ferns, The plant has never yet attained any other than the most pigmy size, and is covered with 

 bulbilhc both on the frond and stipes. The fronds are most irregular in shape, but chiefly laciniatc. 

 It is a perfectly constant form, and was found in Clare, Ireland, by Dr, Allchin in 1853. 



44. spirale (M.). This was found in Guernsey by Mr. James. The fronds are short, two or three inches 



long, narrow in proportion, undulate, and twisted in a spiral or corkscrew fashion. It promises to be a 

 constant form, several successions of fronds having maintained the same character. 



45. crisptdum (M.). A small and very much curled uudulately-crisped variety, tapering from the 

 broadish base to an attenuated point which narrowing of the points gives it an aspect different from the 

 usual forms ofcrispum. It was found by Mr. James in Guernsey, and is very scarce and beautiful. 



40. crisjmm (Willd.). This beautiful variety differs from all others in being uniformly barren. It is 

 one of the oldest forms known, and is most justly admired for the elegant frilling of the frond. It 

 attains the full size of the species, and is exquisitely and symmetrically waved or corrugate, and its 

 margin denote. The basal lobes are unusually developed, and overlay each other to a great extent 

 It has been found recently in Yorkshire by Mr. A, Clapham, in Hants by the Rev. W, H, Hawker, in 

 Denbighshire by Mr. Pritehard, and in Guernsey by Mr, C. Jackson. 



47. mbmriegatam (W.). The fronds of this form are almost always divided at the point, anil faintly 

 streaked with while, giving them a mealy appearance. This whiteness seems owing to the disruption 

 of the cuticle from the tissue beneath. The fronds are extremely various in shape* being ramose, or 

 multifid, or both, irregular, undulate, ereuate, Inebriate* generally slightly aurieled, but sometimes, as 

 in stiff itti/oliuM f producing a barbed auricle, and they arc profuse in fructification. They are also very 



