ASPLENIUM. 



513 



Gardening, i., p. 129. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, v., t. 44. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 143 (this plate was drawn from a specimen gathered 

 in Ceylon). 



A. caudatum is an easily-grown Fern, and on account of the gracefully- 

 pendulous character of its fronds, which are abundantly produced from 

 a succulent and slightly -creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), is very well 

 adapted for growing in hanging baskets of large dimensions. The whole 

 plant is of a beautiful dark, glossy green, which contrasts agreeably with the 

 colour of the conspicuous fructification, and the fronds, being of a coriaceous 

 (leathery) texture, possess the advantage of remaining a long time on the 

 plant. This is one of the few species which prefer a mixture of peat and 

 sand only, without any loam whatever. 



A. (Hemidictyum) Ceterach — He-mid-ic'-ty-um ; Ce'-ter-ach (Ceterach), 

 Linnmus. 



This species, of dwarf habit, generally known as Ceterach officinarum, 

 and popularly called Scaly Ceterach, Scaly Spleenwort, or Scale Fern, is of 

 a very cosmopolitan character, for, besides being essentially a British Fern, 

 it is also known to be indigenous throughout Europe, Northern Asia, British 

 India, &c. In the various popular appellations under which, according to 

 the localities, it is knowm, its distinguishing name of " scaly " is strictly 

 adhered to, on account of the silvery and brown scales with which the 

 under- surface of its leathery, smooth fronds is thickly clothed ; these scales, 

 which in young fronds have a peculiarly silvery appearance, are permanent 

 and singularly tenacious, but they are limited to the under-surface. The upper 

 surface, which is totally devoid of such scales, is, in the young state, of 

 a glaucous (bluish-green) colour, and shows around the pinnse (leaflets) 

 a narrow, white edge, forming a pleasing contrast to the dark tint which they 

 assume when mature. The Scale Fern (Fig. 83) is of dwarf growth ; its 

 fronds, 4in. to 6in. long and lin. or less broad, are cut down nearly or quite 

 to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into alternate (not opposite), blunt, 

 nearly entire, roundish lobes, with a rounded sinus (depression) between 

 them. These fronds are produced in great abundance from a close, central 

 crown, and, although they frequently shrivel up completely during the dry 

 weather, as also during the winter, they spread out afresh as soon as the 



3 u 



