56 
FERNS. 
[i Scolopendrinm . 
SCOLOPENDRIUM, Swz. HART’S TONGUE. 
(Name from the sori diverging from the midrib, like the legs of a scolopendra 
or centipede.) 
A, portion of a leaf of Scolopendrhim vulgar e, showing the origin of the 
fruit from lateral veins , and with its ordinary appearance. B, transverse section 
of the twin masses of fruit, with their folded indusia while in a young state. C, 
ripened fruit, in which the sori have become confluent, and thrown back the 
indusia. D, transverse section of the leaf -stalk. E, theca and spores. F, theca 
opened. 
The sorus of this small genus appears to have two indusia, at first folded over 
each other, and afterwards thrown back in contrary directions ; but in fact the 
sorus itself is no less double, tivo of them growing together so closely as to form in 
appearance but one mass; this is transverse, and seated between those lateral 
veins to which the two covers are attached. 
SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE. 
COMMON HART’S TONGUE. 
(Plate V, fig. 5.) 
Cha. — Leaf strap-shaped, acute, entire, cordate at the base. 
Leaf-stalk scaly. 
Syn. — Scolopendrium vulgare, Smith, Hook., Spreng., Mack., Gray . — 
Asplenium Scolopendrium, Linn., Huds., Bolt., Woodv., Ehrh. — Asple- 
nium elongatum, Salisb. — Scolopendrium officinarum, Swz., WiUd., Pursh. 
— Phyllitis Scolopendrium, Newm. 1854. 
Fig.— E. B. WoQ.—Bolt. 11 .—Flo. Lon. G7 .—Ger. 1138.— Schk. Fil. 83. 
Des. — Rootstock tufted. Leaves numerous, a foot high, strap- 
shaped, pointed, the base of them heart-shaped, smooth, except the 
lower part of the stalk and sometimes the midrib, which are very 
scaly. Sori attached to oblique transverse veins, always in twin 
united masses, each having its indusium attached, the one at the upper 
side, the other at the lower, these when young folding over each 
other in the middle. The twin sori are oblong, distant from other 
pairs, and chiefly at the upper part of the frond. 
This plant is very apt to become differently cleft and crisped, remaining 
so under cultivation, and bearing fruit copiously in that state ; hence the 
following varieties are noticed. 
a {vulyare). Leaves ligulatc, flat and single pointed. 
[i ( crispum ). Leaves crisped and curled along the margins. 
y ( multifidum ). Leaves much cleft at the top. 
t {linear e). Leaves very long and narrow. 
