
THE COMMON HART'S-TONGUE FERN. 187 
from Westmoreland, found by Mr. J. Crossfield, and from Oldstead 
in Yorkshire, found by Mr. C. Monkman. 
121. divergens (M.). This is a very curious form. The fronds are 
about three inches high, excluding the stipites, the base being quite 
normal; near the top they are divided into two wide-spread branches, 
the breadth atthis part being four to five inches; the branches are 
more or less lobate or multifid at the tips, and their lower margin is 
normal, but their upper margin forming the extremity of the frond 
is contracted and toothed as in obtusidentatum (29), a short toothed 
branch being sometimes produced. The plant is sparingly fertile on 
the normal part of the lobes. It was found at Nottlecombe by Mr. 
Elworthy. 
122. contortum (M.). This is a very curious dwarf variety, the 
fronds about six inches high, cordate at the base, throwing out a 
branch (sometimes two) two inches long or more on each side, right 
and left, multifid at the apex with curly or twisted segments, the 
points of the branches being also sometimes multifid and curly, 
sometimes attenuate and somewhat twisted; the margin is through- 
out entire or nearly so, or somewhat irregularly lobed and. toothed, 
in the latter case becoming very slightly submarginate. The fronds 
are from four to six inches across measuring along the branches, and 
are very sparingly fertile; their chief peculiarities are the branching 
at right angles, and the contortion of the multifid points. It was 
found at Nettlecombe by Mr. Elworthy. 
123. distortum (M.). This is one of the most singular varieties 
known to us, the fronds being sometimes almost comparable to 
gnarled oak trees as regards their general óutline. "The fronds are 
from eight to ten inches high, narrow throughout; averaging about 
half an inch, but unequal; they are sometimes branched half- 
way down, always more or less multifidly branched near the apex ; 
the direction of the costa 1s rarely straight, sometimes curving laterally, 
sometimes flexuous, and the divisions of the apex are variously 
spread out and curved; the margin is generally irregular as if bitten 
off, sometimes grotesquely lobate and laciniate-toothed, the lamina 
here and there more or less interrupted. -The fronds are usually 
loaded with sori; much more irregularly contracted than that repre- 
sented in our figure, which is selected to show the disturbed netted 

