CHAPTER XIV, 



SCOLOPENDRIUM, Smith. 



(Scol-op-en'-dri-um.) 



Hartstongue. 



ICHOLSON, in his excellent and exhaustive " Dictionary of 

 Gardening" (vol. iii., p. 393), tells us that Scolopendrium is 

 the ancient Greek name of the genus used by Theophrastus, 

 and that it was said to be so called because the numerous 

 parallel lines of fruit resemble the feet of the centipede 

 {sGolopendra). The popular appellation, Hartstongue, is derived from the shape 

 of the frond of the only British species, S. vulgare. 



Scolopendrium, which in Hooker's " Synopsis Filicum " forms Genus 41 

 and represents the entire tribe Scolopendriece, contains only nine species, most 

 of which, though existing in the form of dry specimens, are as yet unknown 

 in gardens. In accordance with their various modes of venation, the species 

 have been divided as follow : 



Antigramme (An-tig-ram'-me), Presl The fronds of the plants of this 

 sub-genus have a distinct midrib, and their veins intercross each other towards 

 the edge. 



Camptosorus (Camp-tos-o'-rus), Link. In this sub-genus the fronds 

 have their veins intercrossing each other near the midrib, but they are free 

 outward. The sori (spore masses) are usually disposed in opposite pairs, 

 but more or less divaricating (branching off at a high angle and spreading 

 irregularly in various directions). 



