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XI CETERACH. 
The Common Scale Fern has a tufted caudex producing 
branched penetrating roots. The fronds are terminal to 
the caudex, adherent, remaining green through the winter, 
the young ones ap- 
pearing about May; 
they form a pretty 
tuft, the green of 
the upper surface 
well contrasting 
with the pale 
rust-coloured scales 
seen on the back of 
the half-unrolled 
fronds. The stipes 
is short, stout, dark- 
coloured at the 
base, and clothed 
with small brown 
narrow pointed 
scales. The fronds 
are from four to 
eight inches long, 
deeply pinnatifid ; 
the divisions alter- 
nate,and sometimes 
divided quite down 
to the midrib, the 
pinna; being sepa- 
rate and sessile. 
The entire under 
surface is clothed 
with a densely im- 
bricated covering 
[Ceterach officinarmn.] 
of small narrow 
pointed rlmbriate 
scales, at first whitish, changing to light brown; the points of 
some of these scales projecting beyond the margin of the 
