162 BRITISH FERNS, 
and moisture: it is very ornamental on a shaded 
rockery, but does not flourish well when exposed to 
sunshine. 
- 43, SCALY SPLEENWORT. Crrrnacu. 
Asplenium Ceterach, Linneus. B. F’, 277, 280, 282. 
The rootlets of the Scaly Spleenwort are short, but 
= possess a remarkable power of penetrating mortar, 
a however hard it may be; they even find their way 
: into rocks which appear to present a compact sur- 
face ; still, from the luxuriance of some plants kindly 
transmitted to me, it would appear that this species 
thrives much more vigorously in the rich vegetable 
mould which has been accumulating during centuries 
in the deeper fissures: here the rootlets are longer, 
but still appear short as compared with those of other 
rock-loving species. The caudex is tufted, brown and 
scaly. The young fronds make their appearance in 
May, and before unfolding are nearly white on the 
under side: they arrive at maturity in antumn, and 
continue green and vigorous throughout the winter: 
they are always fertile. The stalk is short and beset 
_More or less thickly with pointed scales: the form of 
_ the frond is linear, slightly narrowed below, and deeply 
Ppinnatifid; the segments are short, rounded, and some- 
_ times crenate or lobed; their position, as regards the 
