S C O L O P E N D R IU M vulgare.
C mmon Hart's-tongue.
CRYPTOGAMIA Filices, annulate.
G en. Char/ Fruttif. in fcattered double lines, between
veins. InvoJ. fuperficial, folding lengthwife over
one another, feparating by a longitudinal future.
Spec. Ch a r . Frond undivided, tongue-fhaped ; cordate
at the bafe ; fmooth beneath.
S yn. Scolopendrium vulgare. Sym. Syn. 193.
Afplenium Scolopendrium. Linn. Sp. PI. 1537*
Hudf. 4 5 2 . TVith. 7 6 6 . Hull. 2 41. Relb. 4 0 8 .
Sibth. 2 6 8 . Abbot. 2 2 5 . Bolt. Fil. 18. t. 11.
Curt. Land. fafc. 1. t. 6 7 . Woodv. Suppl. t. 2 7 2 .
Phyllitis. Rail Syn. 116.
C OM M O N about moift thady rocks, deferted mines, the
infides of wells, and other damp hollow places. The fructification
is mod perfeCt for examination about July.
Root perennial, tufted. Fronds many, a foot or 18 inches
high, ereCt, of a full grafs green, {talked, lanceolate, acute,
entire, waved, fmooth except the {talk and back rib, which
arefcaly; heart-fliaped at the bafe; fometimes accidentally
cloven, or even branched, at the fummit. Lines of fructification
oblong, of various lengths, placed between two parallel
veins, and confifting in faCt of two lines of brown
capfules, each accompanied by its own linear membranous
involucrum ; and as the lines are fo clofe together, one invo-
lucrum folds over the other, till feparated by the ripening
fruit. Each capfule hands on a ftalk, and is invefled with a
ring. The involucrum at length becomes reflexed, and is overgrown
and concealed by the ripening capfules.
Although this fern, like that in our laft plate, is to be found
011 the lift of medicinal plants, its virtues are little regarded.
Its juices are mucilaginous, partaking of fome acrimony, and
the fmell of the plant is peculiarly unpleafant.