rfte
This is a very peculiar plant, exceedingly interesting to
the student of Terns, from the differences of structure and
development it exhibits as compared with the majority of
Ferns. It is an almost stemless plant, furnished with a few
coarse brittle fibres, and a bud springing from the permanent
point which represents the stem. Within this bud,
before the season at which the fronds are developed, they
may be found in an embryo condition, perfectly formed, the
two branches of the frond placed face to face, the fertile
being clasped by the barren one. This new frond springs
up annually, and perishes before winter, and in the majority
of cases is not very conspicuous. The size varies from
three to eight or ten inches in height, the lower half consisting
of a smooth, erect, cylindrical, hollow stipes, the
base of which is invested by a brown membranous sheath,
which had covered it while in the bud.
Above, the frond is separated into two branches, one of
which is spreading, pinnate, leafy, lance-shaped ; the pinnæ
crescent-shaped, or somewhat fan-shaped approaching to
lunate, filled with a radiating series of two or three times
forked veins, such as occur in Adiantum, one vein extending
into each of the crenatures into which the margin is divided.
The other branch is erect, fertile, compoundly branched.
that is, it is first divided into branches corresponding with
the pinnæ, and these again into another series of branches,
on which, distinct, but clustered, the globose stalkless spore-
cases are produced. The spore-cases are two-valved, and
open transversely when ripe; the valves are concave.
Occasionally, though very rarely, two fertile branches are
produced, and there is a variety in which the pinnæ are
pinnatifid.
This species is widely distributed, but local, occurring in
open heaths and pastures, where the soil is peaty, and not
very wet. The same plant occurs in other parts of Europe,
and also in North America.
The Moonwort is not very easily cultivated. It may,
however, be preserved in pots in a cold frame, if transplanted
while dormant into rather unctuous peaty soil, and kept
from either of the extremes of drought or saturation. The
roots should not often be disturbed when once established.
The Moonwort is the Osmunda Lunaria of Liunæus.
Genus IX. CETERACH, Willdenow.
The genus Ceterach furnishes only one British species; and
this is so different from all others as to be distinctly re