59 



in the open fernery, at least in the eastern parts of England, the 

 evergreen fronds being liable to suffer from frost, and especially 

 during the dry piercing winds of spring. It will however live and 

 flourish when planted in a sheltered cavity better than under con- 

 finement. If potted, a cold close frame, where it may be kept 

 with A. marinum, fontanum, &c., shaded alike from the sun and 

 cold, will answer better than the greenhouse, bearing in mind that 

 the absence of all superfluous moisture must be strictly attended 

 to, and the fronds of larger ferns must not be allowed to spread 

 over it. The crown should be elevated. 



Genus 8. SCOLOPENDRIUM. 



GEN. CHAR. Sori linear-elongate, straight, growing on the lateral 

 veins, two together, approximate in one line. Indusia two, 

 opening down the middle of the apparently simple sori. 



This genus was separated from Asplenium on account of the very 

 remarkable difference of its fructification. The sori are double, each 

 pair being disposed between two parallel branches of the lateral 

 veins, and so closely approximating as to appear as one. The two 

 series of theca3 composing each apparent sorus, arise individually 

 from the opposite sides of the outer branches of two principal lateral 

 veins, each being covered at first by its appropriate indusium : the 

 confined space thus allowed for their development occasions the two 

 sori to become confluent, while the margins of their indusire, sepa- 

 rating in opposite directions, appear like one opening down the 

 middle. The double or compound character of the sori may be 

 readily traced by careful examination, and will be very evident when 

 observed in an early stage of growth. 



The regularly parallel lines of fructification, disposed at equal 

 distances on each side of the mid- vein of the long, entire frond of 

 S. vulgare, bear some resemblance in arrangement to the legs of a 

 Scolopendra or Centipede, hence the name. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE. Common Hart's-tongue. TAB. XXXV. 



Fronds entire, linear or oblong-lanceolate, cordate at the base. 

 Rachis shaggy, with narrow membranous scales. 



Scolopendrium vulgare, Symons. Smith. E.B.1I5Q. Hooker and 

 Arnott. Babington. Moore. Phyllitis Scolopendrium, New- 

 man, Hist. Brit. Ferns, 271. Asplenium Scolopendrium, 

 Linnaeus. Scolopendrium officinarum, Swartz. S. Phyllitis, 

 Roth. 



One of our most common ferns, growing on moist shaded banks, 

 in the clefts of rocks, about old buildings, and in the mouths of 



H 2 



