88 FERNS OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



variety is very remarkable, and has been found on a vi^all 

 near Taunton; it is termed lacerdtum, and lias its 

 broad fronds deeply lobed or pinnatifid. 



Some forms of this fern are found, when under culture, 

 to be viviparous ; that is, buds arise upon the stem, vjrhich 

 separate . spontaneously from the plant itself, and become 

 young ferns. A' variety of PolysticJmm annulare has 

 been for some time known as viviparous, but from 

 recent observations it would seem that the same pecu- 

 liarity is observable in several of the British ferns, 

 though it remains yet unproved whether this phenomenon 

 wiU be found to be permanent. A writer in the " Gar- 

 dener's Chronicle" for November, 1854, says, " I possess 

 two forms of Scolopendrium vulgare, Polystichum loba- 

 tum, Lastrea foeniscii, andZastrea Filix-mas, aU of which 

 have either produced a viviparous plant, or are gradually 

 developing bulbillse." He adds, that he could name 

 other persons who have observed similar instances of 

 reproduction in ferns. 



The Hart's-tongue is called by various writers, Phi/l- 

 lites Scolopendrium, AspUnium Scolopend/rmm, or Scolo- 

 pendrium Fhyllitides. 



11. Cetera CH (Scaly Spleenwort). 



1. C. qfficindrum (Common Ceterach, or Scaly Spleen- 

 wort). — Fronds hnear-lanceolate, pinnatifid, covered be- 

 neath with chaffy scales ; segments blunt. This fern is 

 readily distinguished from any other British plant. It 

 varies very little in form, and the whole of its under 

 surface is thickly clothed with brown scales. The 

 fronds are from two or three to six inches long, very 



