FILICES. 



1055 



X. CETERACH. CETERACH. 



Fronds piunatifid or pinnate. Sori linear and diverging as in Spleen- 

 wort, but without any distinct indusium, and usually almost concealed 

 under the scales of the under surface of the frond. 



The genus is now limited to the European species and a second 

 larger one from the Canary Islands. 



1. Scaly Ceterach. Ceterach officinarum, Willd. 



(Fig. 1286.) 



(Scolojpendrium Ceterach, Eng. Bot. t. 1244.) 



Fronds tufted, spreading, about 2 to 

 6 inches long, deeply pinnatifid or pin- 

 nate, with broadly oblong or rounded 

 lobes or segments attached by their 

 troad base, green and glabrous" on the 

 upper side, but the under side thickly 

 covered with brown scarious scales, 

 which completely conceal the sori until 

 they become very old. 



On rocks and old walls, in central and 

 southern Europe and west central Asia, 

 extending northward to Holland. In 

 Britain, common in many parts of Eng- 

 land and Ireland, but rare in Scotland. 

 Fr. summer and autumn. 



Tier. 1286. 



XL BLECHHUM. BLECHNUM. 



Sori linear, one on each side of the midrib of each segment and 

 parallel to it. Indusium attached along the outer edge of the sorus, 

 opening outwards from the inner side. 



A small genus, spread over many parts of the world, but chiefly 

 tropical. 



1. Hard Blechnum. Blechnum Spicant, Eoth. 



(Fig. 1287.) 



(B. horeale, Eng. Bot. t. 1159.) 



Fronds simply pinnate, tufted, of two kinds, the outer barren ones 



spreading, usually 6 inches to near a foot long ; the segments lanceolate, 



