CETERACH: A genus of the order of filices, belonging to the cryptogamia class of plants. The parts of fructification are situated in the small spongy line under the disk of the leaves. There are 24 species. Two of these are natives of Britain, and grow upon old walls or moist rocks; one is called fen-lepideum, or hart's tongue; the other is properly ceterach, also called spleenwort. It has an herbaceous, somewhat mucilaginous, roughish taste; it is recommended as a pectoral, and for promoting urine in nephritic cases. The virtue which it has been most celebrated for, is that which it has the least title to, viz. diminishing the spleen.