44 
FERNS. 
[Scolopendrium . 
SCOLOPENWtlUM VULGARE. 
COMMON HART'S-TONGUE. 
(Plate 3, fig. 11.) 
Cha. — F rond ligulate, acute, entire, cordate at the base. Rachis 
scaly. 
Syn. — Scolopendrium vulgare, Smith, Hook., Spreng., Mack., Gray. — 
Asplenium scolopendrium, Linn., Huds., Bolt., Woodv., Ehrh. — As- 
plenium clongatum, Salisb. — Scolopendrium officinamm, Swz., Willd., 
Pursh. — Scolopendrium Pliillitis, Roth. 
Fig. — E. B. 1150 .—Bolt. 11 .—Flo. Lon. 67 .—Ger. 1138.— Schk. fil. 83. 
Des. — Root tufted. Fronds numerous, a foot high, strap-shaped, 
pointed, the base of them heart-shaped, smooth, except the rachis 
and the lower part of the midrib, which are very scaly. Sori attached 
to oblique transverse veins, always in twin united masses, each having 
its cover attached, the one at the upper side, the other at the lower, 
and when young folding over each other in the middle. The sori 
are oblong, distant from each other, and chiefly at the upper part of 
the frond. 
This plant is very apt to run into differently cleft and crisped varieties, 
which remain constant under cultivation, and bear fruit copiously in that state ; 
even the common plant has often some of its fronds cleft at the extremity. 
a (vulgare). Frond ligulate, flat-pointed. 
/2 ( crispum ). Frond crisped and curled. 
y ( multifidum) . Frond much cleft at the top. 
Sir J. E. Smith remarks that the whole plant has a nauseous scent when 
bruised, and is of a mucilaginous and acid taste. It is now discarded from 
the regular practice of medicine, but frequently still sold in our herb shops, 
being used as an ointment for burns, &c., and taken internally as an astringent. 
Sit.— I n damp ruins, rocks, wells, &c. 
Hab. — Scarcely a common Fern, though abundant in some places, particu- 
larly in the South and West of both England and Ireland, but decreasing in 
quantity northwards. Isle of Man, Mr. C. Forbes. Near Braunston, Leices- 
tershire (rare), Rev. A. Bloxam. In Wagg Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, also 
at Buxton, Matlock, and Dove Dale, Derbyshire, Mr. H. C. Watson. Near 
Leeds, Mr. H. Denny. Near Richmond anil Settle, Yorkshire, Mr.J. Tatham. 
Pease Bridge, Durham, Mr. Winch. Three varieties on Pottery Car, near 
Doncaster, Mr. Appleby. Hawkstone, Salop, Mr. J. S. Bayly. Abundant 
about Twickenham, Whitton, Hounslow, Brentford, &c., Middlesex; also at 
Barnes Common and Wimbledon Common, Surrey. Near Wrexham, Denb., 
Mr. J. E. Bowman. Arniston Woods, Edinburgh, Mr. W. Brand. Cawdor 
Woods, Mr. W. Stables. Moray, Rev. G. Gordon. Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. 
Sutherland, Aberdeenshire, and Kincardineshire, but by no means common, 
Dr. Murray. Orkney, Dr. Gillies. Castell Aber, Lleiniog, Anglcsea, Mr. 
W. Leighton. — y: Caernarvon Castle, Mr. J. F. M. Dovaston. Carrcg Onan, 
Anglesea, Mr. W. Leighton. 
Geo. — Not found in the Northern countries of Europe. In Germany ns far 
North as Grimmia. Very rare in North America, being, according to 
Pursh, found only in one place, viz. New York. 
