li;
SCOLOPENDEIUM OFriciNARrTM, V. CEESPUM, Willdmow, Sp. Plant. V. 8 4 9 . Lin k,
F il. Sp. 86. MeUavkis, Fil. Hort. Bot. Lips. 67.
P h y l l i t is o e i s p a , J . Bauhin, Hist. Plant, i i i. 7 4 9 .
Var. variabile: fronds oblong strap-sbaped, rounded or sometimes
lobate at tlio apex, tbe margin often divided to the costa into one
or moro rounded or subreniform lobes; stipes frequently bearing a
distinct reniform lobe; rarely the entire frond consists of two kidneji-
shapod opposite stalked branches. [Plato LXXXVIII.]
S o o lo p e n d e i u m v u l g a e e , v . v a e i a b i l e , WoUaston MS. Moore, F e n s o f Gt.
Brit. Nature Printed, t u id e r t . 4 2 ; Id ., Haxidb. Brit. Ferxis, 3 e d . 2 0 7 .
Var. multifldum: fronds irregular, many-times furcately divided
near the apex, the divisions variously multifid-crisped; fertile;
stipes undivided. [Plate LXXXIX.]
S o o lo p e n d e i u m v u l g a e e , v . m u l t i f i d u m , Graxj, Nat. A r r . Brit. PI. ii. 15.
Mom-e, Haxidb. Bx-it. Ferxis, 3 e d . 1 9 8 ; Id ., Ferns o f Gt. Brit. Nature
Printed, im d e r t . 4 2 (e x c l. t h e T a r s , ra-mosu-m A lobatuxn). Somerbti, Ferns
o f Gx-eat B r i t , 61.
S o o lo p e n d e i u m o f f i c i n a e u m , v . m u l t i f i d u m , Schkuhr, Krxjpt. Gew. 79, t . 83,
flg. b. Willdexioxe, Sp. P lant, v . 3 4 9 . L in k , Fil. Sp. 86.
P h y l l i t is m u l t i f id a , Gerard; Baxj, Sxjxiop. 11 7 .
Var. ramosum : stipes branched; fronds irregular, short, dense;
the branches plane below, densely multifid-orisped at the apex.
S o o lo p e n d e i u m v u l g a e e , v . e a m o s u m , Gray, Nat. An-. Brit. Plants ii. 15.
Moore, Handb. Brit. Ferns, 3 e d . 1 9 9 .
S c o l o p e n d r i u m v u l g a r e , v . d j b d a l e u m , Deakin, Florigr. Brit. iv . 7 9 , fig. c.
S c o l o p e n d r i u m o f f i c i n a r u m , v . r a m o s u m , Willdenow, Sp. Plant, v . 3 5 0 .
L in k , Fil. Sp. 86.
Far. laceratum: fronds broadly ovate (sometimes on the same
plant strap-shaped), the margin more or less undulate deeply inciso-
lobate lohes unequaUy prolonged, the apex multifid-orisped; basal
pair of lobes sometimes much elongated and multifid-crisped at the
end. [Plate XCII.]
S o o lo p e n d e i u m v u l g a e e , v . l a c e e a t u m , Moore, Handb. Brit. Ferns, 2 e d .
1 7 5 ; 3 e d . 1 9 9 ; Id ., Ferns o f Ot. B rit. Nature Printed, t . 4 2 , fig . 10.
Sowerby, Ferns o f Gt. Brit. 6 1 .
S o o lo p e n d e i u m v u l g a e e , v . s e e e a t u m , o f g a r d e n s .
S o o l o p e n d e iu m v u l g a e e , p a l m a t u m , o f gardens.
S o o lo p e n d e i u m v u l g a e e , v . e n d i v l e f o l i u m , o f '
Caudex short, thick, tufted, often decumbent, scaly at the crown.
Scales lanceolate-acuminate, pale purplish-brown, shining, finely
reticulate-venose. Fibres short, branched, numerous, dark brown.
Vernation circinate.
Stipes averaging about ono-third the length of tho frond, but
varying from about one-fourth to one-half its entire length, usually
clothed with pale tawny contorted subulate scales, sometimes smooth,
purplish-brown, darkest at the base; terminal, and adherent to the
caudex. Raehis, or more correctly midrib, stout, scaly behind when
young, often dark-colourcd below.
Fronds from about four inches to two feet or upwards in length,
narrow elongate-lanceolate, or broadly linear, or oblong strap-shaped,
plane, fleshy or coriaceous, deep rich green; they are normally
entire or but slightly sinuous on the margin, the apex more or less
attenuated terminating in an acute point, and the base cordate.
The varieties deviate in unnumbered forms, by tbe laceration or
undulation of tho margin, by the production of an excurrent membrane
from either surface, by the multifid dilatation of the apex, by
the branching (once or repeatedly) of the stipes and midrib, by the
loss of the lohes forming the heart-shaped base or their acute prolongation
so as to resemble the barbs of an arrow, and by the
arrest of longitudinal development. Sometimes fronds are produced,
which are reduced to mere awl-shaped bodies, representing the stipes
and costa, everything else being suppressed.
Venation parallel-forked : that is, the vehu which spring from the
stout costa or midrib, which is scaly behind when young, and often
dark-coloured in the lower part, are one two or three times forked
near their base ; and the veinlets or branches thus produced are
parallel, extending side by side obliquely almost to the margin,
where they terminate in club-shaped apices. In the cordately
enlarged base of the frond, the furcations are more numerous.
Fruotification dispersed over the back of the frond, most abundant
upwards; sometimes borne on the upper surface. Sari linear,
oblique, unequal in length, double or twin, that is, growing in pairs,
the two contiguous parallel lines of spore-cases borne on the posterior
and anterior veinlets of adjacent fascicles of veins, hecoming
confluent into one broad linear mass, forming a double sorus. Indu-
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