284 



OUR COMMON FERNS. 



The Spleenworts. 



In continuation of my notes on our common or normal 

 Ferns, as representing the raw material from which Nature 

 has fashioned so many beautiful "sports" or varieties, 

 whence by the selective cultivator's aid a large number of 

 improved forms have been raised^ I will now deal with the 

 Spleenwort or Asplenium family. 



The generic character of all the Spleenworts is that the 

 spore heaps are long and arranged herring bone fashion on 

 each side of the midribs, with a thin skin-like cover over 

 the immature spores, springing from the lower side, this is 

 eventually hidden when the spores are ripe. 



Probably the most widespread of all is 

 The Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium Trichomanes). 



This is a small growing species confined practically to 

 rocks, old walls, or hedge banks of a roughly constructed 

 stony character. It is never found in flat open soil such 

 as is favourable to the growth of larger species. It is only 

 at home in chinks and crevices, and in many parts of the 

 country colonies occupy old walls, which are covered with 

 hundreds of the pretty growths, whose roots are firmly 

 anchored in the old mortar, often exposed to sun and wind. 

 Under such conditions the fronds will not exceed a few 

 inches in length, but when growing under more sheltered 

 ones, say in a loose stone dyke with freer root room and a 

 little shaded, we have found specimens with fronds three 

 or four times as long. The plant grows in small clumps 

 of accumulated crownlets whence the fronds rise so as to 

 form a loose rosette or spreading bunch. Each frond 

 consists of a black hair-like stalk, whence the common and 

 botanical names, on each side of which is ranged a row of 

 even and almost round or oval pinnae of darkish green, 

 attached by a minute stalklet. The frond is narrow and 

 of even width until near the top when it tapers gradually 

 to a point. From the nature of its habitat it is of course 

 often exposed to drought, which if excessive causes the fronds 



