78 COMMON HART'S TONGUE. 



COMMON HART'S TONGUE. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE. 



\Symons, Smith, JBentham, Hooker and Arnott, 

 and Moore.] 



(Fig. 81.) 



SYNONYMS. 



PHYLLITIS SCOLOPENDRIUM. Newman. 

 ASPLENIUM SCOLOPENDRIUM. Linnaeus. 

 SCOLOPENDRIUM OFFICINARUM. Swartz. 

 SCOLOPENDRIUM PHYLLITIS. Roth. 



THIS is a readily-distinguishable species of fern, and 

 is very graceful and beautiful, contrasting, as it does, 

 with the feathery appearance so common in other 

 ferns. It grows in tufts ; the fronds, which are ever- 

 green, are oblong, strap-shaped, and simple : they vary 

 in length from six inches to a foot and a half. At 

 first they appear erect and stiff, but afterwards assume 

 a pendulous habit, spreading out in a circular manner 

 from the clumps of roots which, are so well known in 

 every rural district. The sori are arranged at short 

 intervals on the upper portion of the frond, in the 

 direction of the veins. The name of this species is 

 an alteration of Scolopendra, or Centipede, from a 

 fancied resemblance between the feet of the centipede 



