THE COMMON HART'S-TONGUE FERN. 163 
irregular portions of the frond are contracted, these portions having 
the short distinct teeth or the shallow lobes of the polyschides type, 
while here and there other portions grow out to the normal width, 
and either form rounded or oblong projecting lobes, or entire normal 
spaces of greater length: these have been called laciniatum, but 
they insensibly merge into sinuatum. The contracted parts are 
sometimes elegantly crisped, as in some plants from Settle, found by 
Mr. Clapham. Sometimes the apex, or the base, or one side only, 
of the frond is affected. The base is usually imperfectly developed, 
being more or less irregularly truncate; and the apex is usually 
attenuated, but sometimes multifid. Scarcely two fronds are alike, 
but the fronds are always more or less affected. The venation is 
slightly eonfused in the contracted parts: but the sori are normal. 
This form has been found in—Devonshire : Ilfracombe, Rev. J. M. 
Chanter. Somersetshire: Nettlecombe, C. Elworthy. Sussex: 
Littlehampton, G. .B. Wollaston. Yorkshire: Ashdale near Helms- 
ley, A. Clapham; Moughton near Settle, A. C. ; Kirkham Abbey, 
C. Monkman; Oldstead, C.M.; Malton, C. M. Westmoreland: 
Whitbarrow, GŒ. B. Wollaston. Denbighshire: Ruthin, 7. Pritchard. 
Guernsey, J. James, C. Jackson. 
46. sinuato-lobatum (M.). .A bold form with broad fronds, lobed 
or sinuated, and more or less irregular in width and outline, 
the apex twice dichotomously forked, with broad slightly crispy 
divisions; the base is cordate. It was found in Somersetshire by 
Mr. Elworthy. 
47. vespiforme (Claph.). This is a singular plant, and tolerably 
constant. The fronds are of normal size, cordate at the base, 
 attenuate at the apex, and tolerably regular and entire on the 
margin, except about the centre where there is a narrowed portion 
contracted almost to the costa. It was gathered at Fountains Abbey, 
Yorkshire, by Mr. Clapham. 
48. curiosum (Woll.). This form has a general resemblance to 
sinuatum (45) in a portion of its fronds, which are partially lobate and 
sub-contracted, and partly normal on the margin. Sometimes for a 
considerable portion of its length the lamina 1s narrowed but entire ; 
the base is usually much narrowed and then truncate, and the veins 
are much reticulated in the contracted parts; the apex is simple or 
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