THE COMMON HART'S-TONGUE FERN. 167 
described, must have been long known, as a garden specimen received 
from the younger Linneus is preserved in the Smithian Herbarium. 
In the most characteristic plants the fronds are erect, a foot or more 
in height, and about an inch in breadth; the base subtruncate, and the 
apex attenuated, the margin irregularly lobed, and dentate. On the 
under surface is borne within the margin an excurrent membrane, 
which is also lobed; the fronds have therefore, as it were, a double 
margin, and both surfaces of this membrane, and the under surface 
of the frond itself exterior to it, are soriferous, in the more vigorous 
state, while in a less perfectly developed condition the membrane 
is reduced to a longitudinal vein-like ridge. This was found at 
Nettlecombe, by Mr. C. Elworthy. Other forms of the variety have 
since been found in many localities :—Somersetshire: near Sel- 
worthy, Mrs. Archer Thompson; Minehead, W. Bowden. Devon- 
shire: Ilfracombe, Reo. J. M. Chanter (several forms); Combe 
Martin, Rev. J. M. Chanter. Cornwall: Enys Penryn, G. Dawson. 
Sussex: Littlehampton, G. B. Wollaston. Isle of Wight, R. 
Bloxam. Gloucestershire: Stroud, W. M. Cooper. Yorkshire: 
Grassington, Wharfedale, A. Clapham. Guernsey, J. James (fine). 
[Plate LXXXVI A.] 
There is in the possession of Mr. Wollaston, a form of this variety, 
with multifid apices, purchased of Potter, a well-known dealer, since 
dead, the history of which cannot be traced ; and from this, which 
is a tall growing form, the pigmy variety proliferum (68) has been 
raised, as well as plants exactly resembling itself. 
60. marginato-fimbriatum (M.). This is a narrow form, with the 
base subeordate, and the margin of the frond fringed with small 
prominent and tolerably regular teeth. This form, found in North 
. Lancashire, near Cartmel, by Hillman a collector, has been sent by 
Mr. F. Olowes; and a similar one from Silverdale, Yorkshire, 
by Messrs. Stansfield. 
61. marginato-fissum (M.). This form of marginatum (59) has 
a broad cordate base, and an acute or attenuated apex, the margin 
deeply cleft into narrow obtuse lobes. Itis a Devonshire variety, 
and has been sent from Barnstaple by Mr. .C. Jackson; and from 
Ilfracombe by Mr. J. Dodds. j 
62. marginato-irregulare (M.). The fronds of this dwarfish 

