THE HAKTSTOSGUE. 



2 



THE HAETSTONGUL'. 



Scolopendrium vulgare. 



PLATE 1, Fia. 2. 



[IMPLEST and most easily recognizable 

 of the Ferns of Great Britain is the 

 Hartstongue. Yet it is beautiful, not- 

 withstanding its eminently simple and unpre- 

 tending form. Its range is wide indeed 

 almost if not quite universal throughout Great 

 Britain ; very plentiful in England and Ireland, 

 somewhat less plentiful in Scotland, and fairly 

 distributed throughout Wales. You cannot mis- 

 take its green tongue- shaped frond, narrow and 

 tapering, simple and undivided; sometimes smooth 

 and straight, sometimes crumpled, but always 

 delightfully green. The Hartstongue is in fact an 

 evergreen, its new fronds starting into sight in 

 April or May, continuing to grow until the end 

 of September and retaining their greenness even 

 throughout the winter. The description of this 

 beautiful Fern cannot puzzle even the merest tyro 



239 



