514 FILICES. [Asplenium. 



inci'snm, Hoffm. ; frond very large 3-pinnate, pinnae broad, lower pinnules 

 again pinnate flat toothed. — Var. Ath. latifo'lium, Bab., is a form with 

 very broad much imbricated sharply incised pinnules, once found near 

 Keswick. 



Sub-gen. 3. Cete'rach, Willd. (gen.). Involucre almost obsolete. 

 Frond covered with chaffy scales beneath. Veins anastomosing. 



10. A. Cete'rach, L. ; frond pinnatifid. Cetc'rach officina'rum, Desv. 

 Kocks and walls, chiefly in W. counties, from Argyll and Perth southd. ; 

 Ireland ; Chanuel Islands ; frt. April-Sept. — Rootstock short, stout. Stipes 

 1-3 in., wiry, blackish, chaffy. Frond 4-6 in., erect or spreading, leathery, 

 linear-lanceolate or oblong, bright opaque green above, beneath densely 

 clothed with rusty ovate toothed scales ; segments ^-§ in., horizontal, 

 broadly ovate or oblong, quite entire, lower segments free, sinus broad 

 deep rounded. Sori linear, hidden under the scales ; involucre a very 

 narrow membrane, or a ridge on the swollen nerve. — Distrib. From 

 Belgium southd., N. Africa, W. Asia, N.W. Himalaya. 



8. SCOLOPEN'DRIUM, Sm. Hart's-Tongue. 



Rootstock stout, short, inclined. Fronds tufted, simple, coriaceous ; veins 

 free or anastomosing. Sori linear on opposite contiguous veins, almost 

 confluent ; involucre linear, attached to the vein, those of the contiguous 

 sori opening opposite one another. — Distrib. Temp, and trop. regions ; 

 species 9. — Etym. The old Greek name. 



S. vul'gare, Sm.; frond oblong-ligulate, base cordate. 

 Hedgebanks, rocks, copses, &c, N. to Shetland ; Ireland ; Channel Islands ; frt. 

 July-Aug. — Rootstock, stipes, and often midrib clothed with subulate scales. 

 Stipes very stout, 4-8 in. Fronds 6-18 in., broadest in the middle, coria- 

 ceous, flaccid, bright green ; basal auricles converging ; margin undulate ; 

 midrib stout ; veins in groups of 2-4, indistinct, free or casually anastomos- 

 ing, horizontal. Sori parallel, at right angles to the midrib, very variable in 

 length and number. — Distrib. From Gothland southd., N. Africa, W. 

 Asia, Japan, N.W. America. — A multitude of varieties are cultivated, 

 presenting wonderful departures from the normal state. 



9. WOOD'SIA, Br. 



Rootstock short, tufted. Stipes usually articulate above the base. 

 Fronds pinnate. Sori globose ; involucre inferior, membranous, at first 

 calyciform, then usually breaking up into capillary segments. — Distrib. 

 Arctic and N. temp, regions, Andes, S. Africa ; species 14. — Etym. J. 

 Woods, an eminent English botanist. 



W. hyperbo'rea, Br. ; frond lanceolate pinnate, pinnae ovate-oblong 



or cordate. 



"Wet alpine rocks, alt. 2,000-3,000 ft., N. Wales ; Durham to Dumfries, Forfar, 

 and Perth ; frt. July-Aug. — Rootstock stout, subelongate. Fronds 3-6 in., 

 densely tufted. Stipes shining, clothed with ferruginous scales. Pinna 

 subdistant, £-§ in., pubescent and ciliate; veins simple and forked. Sori 



