48 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND FERNS. 



bottom, or up the mountain-side 3000 feet above sea-level. 

 Outside these islands its European range is general, and beyond 

 it may be found in most parts of the world. 



The name filix-fcemina, as already indicated, means literally 

 female fern. It is singular that so common a species as this 

 should be without a single genuine folk-name. The inference 

 is that the country-folk have been blind to its individual beauty, 

 and have regarded it merely as "fern." 



A species resembling the Lady Fern in many respects, but 

 differing in the absence of an indusium, is by most authors 

 included on that account in the genus Polypodinm. (See Alpine 

 Polypody, p. 88.) 



Scaly Spleenwort (Asplenium ceteracK). 



So distinct is the individuality of this fern among British 

 plants that, given a drawing of its frond, no description is 

 needed. None the less, we shall give that description, if only 

 for the sake of uniformity of treatment. Several other of our 

 ferns, i.e. the Hart's-tongue, and the Adder's-tongue, are so 

 distinct that they cannot be mistaken for any other native 

 species of fern, yet on a cursory glance they may be confused 

 with the leaves of certain flowering plants. Quite apart from 

 the pattern of the frond, the dense coating of chaffy scales on 

 the under side renders the Scaly Spleenwort distinct from all the 

 others, and for this reason, combined with the character of the 

 indusium, it is placed in a sub-genus by itself, which some 

 authors elevate into a genus separate from Asplenium, regard- 

 less of the fact that this is the true and only original Spleenwort. 



The rootstock is quite short and proportionately stout, wedged 

 in crevices of dry rocks and the joints of old walls. The fronds 

 are tufted, and vary in length from about three to six inches, 

 of which about one-fourth belongs to the scale-clad, tough, 

 black stipes. The leafy portion is cut pinnately, but not quite 



