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Genus X. SCOLOPENDEIUM, Smith.
This genus is botanically very distinct from all our other
native Eerns; and from other points of view is exceedingly
interesting. There is only one British species, but of this
there are several varieties, which have a perfectly distinct
aspect, owing to peculiarities in their development. They
are all evergreen, and on this account, as well as by reason
of their ornamental appearance and hardiness, they are
among the best of all Eerns for ont-door rock-work. The
genus is known from all others by the peculiarities of its
sori, which, though forming parallel oblique lines at intervals
on each side the midvein, and having the appearance of
being single if seen when mature, are in reality composed
of two sori, set face to face, and so close together as to become
laterally confiuent. This is best seen just at the stage
when the indusia are bursting; indeed, at a later stage of
development an unpractised eye would probably fail to observe
any evidence that such was really the structure.
Nevertheless it is so; and the fructification, technically
speaking, consists of sori confluent in pairs, the two sori
forming each pair being placed face to face.
Scolopendrium is merely an alteration of Scolopendra, the