COMMON HARTS TONGUE . 
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Being an evergreen, and a plant of free growth, the 
Hart’s Tongue is one of the most desirable hardy 
ferns for open rock-work. It will do in any part of 
it, either on level ground or on rocks by the sides of 
streams, where its fronds can hang over the water. 
In this situation it is a beautiful object. It requires 
a great deal of water at the roots during the growing 
season, and delights in shade and moisture, although 
it will live under the disadvantages of exposure and 
heat. 
It was formerly in repute as jsl medicine. Ray 
speaks of it as an astringent, and of its healing powers 
when applied to ulcers and wounds. In the ‘ Phyto- 
logist’ it is mentioned that the late Lady Greenly, of 
Titley Court, Herefordshire, took great pains to 
cultivate an evergreen fern as a remedy for burns, 
which turned out to be the common Hart’s Tongue. 
VARIETIES. 
SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE CRISPUM differs from 
the common Hart’s Tongue in the wavy curled appear¬ 
ance of the frond at the margin ; so that it has the 
effect almost of a file on each side the mid-rib. It 
is often, too, of a more delicate texture and paler 
green colour. 
SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE LACERTUM is a dwarf 
and highly ornamented fern : the fronds are often as 
broad as long; they are deeply lobed or pinnatifid. 
It was found on a wall near Taunton. 
