SCOLOPENDRIUM. 



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Euscolopendrium (Eu-scol-op-en'-dri-um), or true Scolopendrium, Smith. 

 The fronds of the species in this division have their veins free or only 

 casually intercrossing each other. 



Schaffneria (Schaff-ner'-i-a), Fee. The only species at present known 

 belonging to this sub-genus has fronds with no distinct midrib, but veins 

 flabellate (fan- shaped) and uniting towards the edge. 



In their fructification the plants belonging to Scolopendriece are closely 

 allied to those belonging to Aspleniece. Their sori are similar to those of the 

 latter tribe, being attached to the veins, oblique with regard to the midrib, 

 or occasionally almost parallel with it, linear or oblong. Their involucres 

 (coverings), however, instead of being single and opening towards the midrib, 

 are arranged in pairs and open towards each other. 



The species of Scolopendrium, though not numerous, are widely distributed. 

 One at least, S. vulgare, is a native of Great Britain as well as of some other 

 parts of Europe, the United States of America, Japan, &c. ; while another, 

 S. Hemionitis, though not found in the United Kingdom, is a native of various 

 parts of Southern Europe. S. rhizophyllum, or, as it is commonly called, the 

 " Walking Fern," is essentially a North American plant ; in S. sibiricum we 

 have a Fern whose habitat extends from Siberia to Kamtschatka and Japan ; 

 while S. nigripes, S. brasiliense, and S. plantagineum are of South American 

 origin, and even the Philippine Islands have produced S. pinnatum. 



Culture. 



On account of their extensive geographical distribution, Scolopendriums 

 are adapted for either the stove, the greenhouse, or the hardy Fernery. The 

 best-known and most extensively cultivated is undoubtedly the common 

 Hartstongue, S. vulgare, of which an almost unlimited number of beautiful 

 or merely curious forms are found in gardens. These, through the extremely 

 varied nature of the outline of their foliage, present a wonderful series of 

 interesting variations from the normal state of the plant. They thrive 

 best in a compost of a light, sandy nature, made up of two parts leaf 

 mould or peat, one part loam, and one part silver sand, and are particularly 

 useful for growing by the edge of water or in shady places, where it is 

 often difficult to cultivate other plants with success. 



