BOTRYCHIUM CETERACH. 179 



elegant little Fern should be planted in pure loam, and placed 

 on the highest point of the rock work. A plant or two should 

 always be kept in pots, under a cold frame, as it is apt to die 

 for want of its pure native mountain air. 



A. TRICHOMANES (Maiden-hair). One of the prettiest of 

 our British Spleenworts, often found growing on the walls of 

 old buildings. The fronds, about 2 or 3 inches long, are 

 pinnate, with the little roundish pinnae. The stems are dark 

 brown and wire-like. Of this, too, there are several varieties 

 multijidum, with the fronds several-times-divided, and the 

 points crisped; depauperatum, in which the pinna; are very 

 much reduced ; incisum, with the pinna3 cut so as to resemble 

 a miniature form of Asplenium formosum. 



BOTRYCHIUM. 



This name is derived from lotrys, a bunch, in reference to 

 the shape of the fructification, which is not unlike that of an 

 erect bunch of Grapes. 



BOTRYCHIUM: LUNARIA (Moonwort). This is the only 

 British species of the genus ; and, although not uncommon in 

 our island, it is extremely difficult to cultivate artificially ; 

 indeed we have never yet seen a person who had been entirely 

 successful. It is more likely to succeed in loam than in peat, 

 but even in loam it never grew well with us a second season. 



CETERACH. 



CETERACH OFFICINARUM (Officinal, used formerly in medi- 

 cine), Fig. 75. The name is Cheterak in Persian. A Fern not 

 uncommon in Britain. We have found it growing on the north 

 side of old walls near Tetbury, in Gloucestershire, in great 

 abundance. This shows how it ought to be cultivated 

 namely, on shady rocks. Fronds simple, but so deeply cut 

 as almost to be pinnate, lance-shaped, about 6 inches long, 



