2G4 
SCOLOPENDRITJAI VULGARE. 
membranous cover, which folds over them in their 
early growth, but in their state of ripeness remains 
nearly erect on each side. 
There are eight forms into which the fronds pass, 
but they so frequently occur with the fronds of the 
usual form that they can scarcely be considered varieties. 
1. Polyschides has a scolloped, finely-plaited edge. 2. 
Orispum has the edge very wavy and curled. 3. Mar¬ 
ginatum, with the edge double, or, as it were, with a 
bem. 4. Hastatum, with a pair of spreading lobes at 
the base. 5. Lobatum, or rather, furcatum, for the 
point of the frond is divided into two irregular ends. 
6. Multifidum, or many-cleft at the point. 7. Lace- 
ratum, torn, the whole frond, both at the edges and 
point, being deeply cut. 8. Ramosum, branohed, the 
stem divided in two, and the points of the twin fronds 
much lobed and crisped. 
The Hart's Tongue is one of the commonest of our 
Ferns, and is to be found almost in every county of the 
British Islands. 
It was known to Turner, Gerarde, Ray, and other 
ancient herbalists as Phyllitis, and even the lobatum 
variety is described and depicted by Gerarde under the 
name of Phyllitis multi/ida. He says he found it “ in 
the garden of Master Cranwioh, a chirurgion dwelling at 
Much-Dunmow, in Essex,” “ who,” he adds, “ gave me 
a plant for my garden.” 
This Fern looks noble by itself, and also forms a very 
striking object when grown in a collection of pot plants, 
or on a rockery, from neither of which it should be 
