THE LANCEOLATE SPLEEXWORT. 



and adherent to the rhizome, Rachis Hat in front, with a slight elevated margin, rounded behind, 

 furnished sparingly with slender jointed hair-scales ; partial rachitics, winged, and also furnished 

 with similar hairs. 



Vernation circinate. 



Fronds from throe or four inches to a foot, or occasionally eighteen inches in length, rigid, bright 

 given, smooth except on rachitics, lanceolate, bipinnatc. Pinnw broadest at the base, narrowing to a 

 point* usually horizontal, sometimes deflexed, scarcely more than half an inch in the smaller, two inches 

 long in the larger fronds, all even the lowest scarcely stalked, sub-opi>osite or alternate; the lower 

 more distant and somewhat shorten Pinnules variable in form, otovato, obliquely-ovate, or dhnidiately 

 sub-quadrate, the anterior side being most developed, always more or leas cuneate at the base ; in the 

 larger fronds they are pinnntifid lielow, with obovatc sharply -toot hed lobes, and coarsely toothed above, 

 the teeth being mucronatc ; in the smaller fronds the lobes arc scarcely developed, the margin being 

 coarsely mucronatcly-toothcd. Occasionally the lower pinna arc longer; sometimes the fronds are 

 narrow and only pinnate with lobed pinna? ; and in other instances they are membranaceous. 



Venation of the pinnules consisting of a tlexuous midvein, alternately branched, the lowest anterior 

 vein directed to the principal lobe, and developing as many venules as there are marginal teeth, one 

 venule extending into each tooth, but not quite reaching the margin; the other veins arc forked or 

 simple, and correspond in number with the marginal teeth. 



Fructification on the back of the frond and scattered over its whole surface. Sort indusiatc, oblong, 

 attached on the anterior side of the venules, that is, above the fork of the veins, occupying rather tho 

 centre of the lobes than the centre of the pinnules, which give* a sub-marginal appearance to tho 

 fructification ; at first distinct, but becoming confluent in irregular masses on the lobes* Occasionally 

 the son arc set back to back on the venule ; and they are sometimes so abundant as to become in ago 

 confluent over nearly the whole frond, /ndusfum a while, oblong, slightly irregular membrane, 

 wavy on the free or anterior margin, Spore*casc$ globose. Spores ovate, angular* roughish* 



Duration* The rhizome is perennial. Tho fronds arc persistent, and under shelter are produced at 

 various times throughout the year, so that the plant is evergreen. 



The affinity of this plant is with Axphmum Adianttim-ni<frum r from which it may be known by 

 its lanceolate, not deltoid, outline ; by the presence of hair-scales on its principal and partial rachides ; 

 by the form of the sori, which is oblong, not linear, the sorus in A . lanccotatum being nearly represented 

 in appearance by the upper half of that of -i. Adiantum-nigrum ; and further, by the position of the 

 sori, which is here produced above, and in A . A diantumrniyrum below the fork of the veins, consequently 

 nearer the costa, so that in the latter the sori are central with respect to the pinnules, whilst in 

 A. lanceolatum they arc submargiual Tho texture is thinner, and the pinnules more equable in size. 



This is a very ornamental 6pecie% and with us potted in well drained soil of peat, loam, and sand, 

 and subjected to the shelter of a shady frame or greenhouse, not kept excessively moist, it is one of 

 the most manngeablo of the smaller ovei^^reen species, always fresh and vigorous. 



Of variations, hardly varieties, Mr. Wollaston enumerates three: — "1. muUifidum (W.), a non- 

 permanent form, in which the apex of the frond is occasionally bifid or inultiltd. 2. proti/trum (W.), 

 an exceedingly scarce condition of the plant, having only been observed in two instances, namely, 

 by Mr. Baxter, of Oxford, and the Rev. W. II, Hawker, in both cases on cultivated plants. 3, /aci- 

 niatum (W.), the peculiarity of which is, that the fronds are remarkably depauperated, the leafy portion 

 being in some cases entirely wanting ; and the fructification, which is generally very copious, protrudes 

 on to the face of the frond, so that an inattentive observer would not distinguish the front from the 

 back. The piwue and pinnules in this latter are frequently mere ribs or veins ; it is *mb-|>erniaiicntt 

 and not uncommon in the Channel Isles" Mr. Jackson, of Guernsey, sends another from that island, 

 in which the margins of the pinnules are so curled under, as to give unusual prominence to the 

 thickened teeth ; it may Iks called (4) critpatum. 



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