GO 
shaped. The leaves have a strong and thick mid-rib (it can 
hardly be called a rachis, much less a mid-vein) from which 
the side-veins start, and afterwards fork twice or thrice 
without reaching the extremity. Moore says, “that they 
terminate just within the edge in a club-shaped apex.” In 
the month of April we may look out for the young frond, 
which appears perfectly upright, with its summit curiously 
rolled or coiled together, as is the case with most Ferns. 
As it grows older, it humbles itself and becomes horizontal. 
At last, as if the trials of the world were too much for it, it 
hangs down its head and is quite pendulous. It comes to 
perfection in September, and during the winter months, 
when almost all the green foliage is gone, the eye is 
refreshed by beholding this plant and the Common Poly- 
pody adorning our hedge-banks in great luxuriance. It 
alone appears shabby and shows symptoms of decay, when 
the spring is returning, and the wild violets, harebells, and 
primroses are adorning our hedges. When the spring is 
still more advanced, and the herbage is thickly set together, 
the young, erect, light green fronds, with their curled-in 
summits, appear through the bushes. This may not be 
noticed by the heedless passer by, but the naturalist cannot 
take his walks abroad without observing a plant of so 
beautiful and lovely a character, even in its earliest stage 
of existence. 
The Hartstongue, when bruised, emits a nauseous smell. 
It is the Phyllitis of Eay and all other botanists. It was 
formerly considered very valuable for medicinal purposes. 
Dioscorides asserts, “that when drunk in wine, it is a remedy 
against serpents’ bites or stings.” Pay mentions it “as a 
good medicine in convulsive disorders.” Older writers 
ascribe to it the power, not only of relieving the spleen and 
liver, but “all other griefes proceeding of stoppings what- 
soever.” We learn from the Plore Prancaise, that it is 
used in Prance as an astringent in cases of diarrhoea and 
haemorrhage. Our older English physicians ascribe to it a 
similar healing power. At the present day it is used in 
country parishes for cuts and sores, burns and scalds. 
There is little difference now in the classical name given 
to this Pern. Newman calls it Phyllitis Scolopendrium. 
