THE COMMON HAET’S TONGUE. 
Scolopendrium vulgare .* — Smith. 
Scolopendrium forms a sub-group of the Aspleniece, 
in which the sori, instead of being simple and distinct, 
are brought together in opposite pairs, so that what 
appears to be a line of spore-cases forming a sorus is 
in fact a double line forming a double or twin sorus. 
The name Scolopendrium is from Scolopendra , a centi- 
pede, from some supposed resemblance between the 
feet of the centipede and the lines of fructification of 
the Fern. Its English name comes from the likeness 
of the whole frond to the shape of a Hart’s tongue, 
differing altogether from the generality of its feathery 
fellows, in being not only one long shining bright green 
leaf, partially erect when dwarf, but drooping in its 
larger development, growing in groups or tufts, on 
rocks, damp masonry, and moist banks, from four 
inches to upwards of two feet long, hanging down in- 
deed like great tongues lolling over the grey walls or 
grassy banks. 
* Asplenium Scolopendrium ( Linnceus ), Blechnnm lingui- 
folium, &c. 
