51 
taken, helpeth all melancholicke diseases, and the lye that 
is made of the ashes thereof, being drunk for some time 
together, helpeth splenetic persons.’’ Vitruvius* says, 
“ that the swine in Candy (Crete) where it grew, by feeding 
thereon, were found to be without spleens, when, as others 
that did not eat thereof, had them as the rest.”t Hence 
the name of Spleenwort, Asplenium, from a, not, and splen, 
spleen. This was also used as a bait for cod fishing. 
With the ancients, this was the true Asplenium. The 
moderns generally make Ceterach a distinct genus. Smith 
called it S colop endrium ceterach. JSTewman names it Hoto- 
lepeum ceterach. Hooker, Asplenium ceterach. Moore, 
Francis, and Babington, Ceterach Officinarum. The word 
is of Arabian origin. 
The scaly Spleenwort has not been found in the Horth 
of Europe or Asia, but is generally distributed throughout 
the Midland and Southern parts of Europe, and a portion 
of Asia, and in the Horth of Africa. Somerset is one of its 
favourite English counties, and it grows at Somerton, and 
other towns where the blue lias prevails in the greatest pro- 
fusion. It is said to be an evergreen, but this is not true, 
for we have in the winter season searched the walls of the 
town mentioned, most diligently, and not found a single 
plant. 
Some little pains must be taken to ensure success in the 
cultivation of this species. If in a rockery, old mortar 
should be placed among the stones where it is to be planted : 
if in a greenhouse, there should be a mixture of peat or 
loam, limestone, and old mortar. Let there be no stagnant 
water, nor a very great supply of fresh water. If possible, 
a southern aspect should be avoided. 
Genus 4. 
Hart’s-tongues. Scolopendria. Clusters and covers in 
pairs, one seated on the lower, and the other on the upper 
branch of each side-vein, and opening to face each other. 
Eor examining plants of this genus, neither should too 
young plants be selected, for then the two covers fold over 
* We presume that this is the great Architect who flourished about 50 b.c. 
t Parkinson, Page 1046. 
