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HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 
base ; each branch is again more or less repeatedly forked, 
and the apices of all the forks are developed into irregular 
fan-shaped leafy expansions, to which the term multifid is 
applied. Sometimes the fronds are merely forked once or 
twice, without being multifid, and this state has been called 
lobatum; in other cases the stipes itself becomes forked, 
bearing multifid branches, and this has been called 
ramosum. This multifid sort is fertile, and occurs in 
many variations. 
A dwarf and highly ornamental variety is that called 
laceratum, or sometimes endimwfolium, which was found 
by Mr. Young, near Taunton, in Somersetshire. In this the 
fronds are often nearly as broad as long, with the margin 
deeply gashed into irregular lobes, the lobes being numerous, 
crowded, and much undulated, sometimes tapering, some- 
times more or less dilated at the apex, the basal pair often 
considerably enlarged, and so much developed as to produce 
an approach to the palmate form. 
The common Hartstongue is an inhabitant of hedge- 
banks, of old walls, and sometimes of the interior of wells, 
in which latter situation it acquires great luxuriance. It 
is one of the more commonly distributed species in England 
and in Ireland, less abundant in Scotland ; and also found 
