THE COMMON HARTS-TONGUE FERN. 191 
are in some instances pronged at the apex, indicating the same 
ramose character as that which occurs in the more usual state of the 
fronds. [Plate XC.] 
134. lacerum (Sim.). This variety is a modification of digitatum 
(138), from which it was raised; it is however permanently unlike 
it, and has a tendency to be viviparous. The fronds are often 
branched as in its parent, and they are flabellately multifid, but the 
divisions, especially of the multifid apex, are often very much 
reduced in width, and they are frequently again split into very 
narrow inciso-lobate segments, which gives the appearance of a leaf 
lacerated or torn into shreds, the irregularly-jagged edges of the 
segments being marginate. It was raised from spores by Mr. R. 
Sim, of Foot's Cray, Kent. 
135. depauperatum (Woll.). A curious deformed variety which 
instead of fronds, produces little else but their midribs or coste, 
which form subulate points an inch or two in length, and either 
simple, bifid, or multifid. The plants throw up, in the course of the 
season, one or two large digitate fronds which serve to carry on the 
functions of life. It is a sport from digitatum (133), raised. some 
years since from spores by Mr. Wollaston. 
136. cristatum (Claph.). This is a very handsome form. The 
fronds are tall, a foot high exclusive of the stipites, an inch and a 
half in breadth, the base cordate, the margin entire or subsinuous, 
and the apex developed into a noble crest or tuft of a peculiar cha- 
racter when perfect. The costa branches near the top so as to form 
several lobes, which are plain, even on the margin, and soriferous ; 
at their extremity is developed a dense multifid-eristate tuft an inch 
and a half to two inches in expansion, and eight or ten of these 
tufts form the apex of the fronds, which are among the most 
beautiful which are known of this character. In one fine example 
grown by Mr. Clapham, the base is unequal, and the lamina 
terminátes unequally an inch or so below the ramified apex, the 
costa being bared; the head in this case consists of seven secondary 
branches, and measures seven and a half inches aeross, some of the 
tufts being fully three inches broad. The frond is normal in its lower 
parts. It was found by Mr. A. Clapham, near Settle, in Yorkshire. 
137. eristatum ramosum (M.). A fine subvariety of eristatum, with 

