86 TYPES OF BRITISH PLANTS 
which have over them a lid, as it were, also of elliptical 
shape. The groups themselves, instead of being posted 
at the back of the veins of the 
frondlets, are at the side. 
On \ : 
\% \ Two fairly common spleenworts 
~ Zs ‘Z| are the Rue-Leaved and the Sea. 
SS 2 \/ 2/ The first, with fronds branching into 
N Z \/ 7) threefold frondlets, is a little plant 
‘S\ZJ\\/¢/ which may often be found on old 
S \Z walls, with its spore-cases all crowd- 
XY] 7 ing one another in the centre of the 
M2 / frondlets ; and the second, a larger 
( plant of dark glossy green, with 
me \\ | Z fronds that are composed of separ- 
SS dt 2 dh ately slightly - scalloped frondlets, 
Wi it | forms rich masses of colour on the 
ys (| " cliffs of the Cornish coast. The 
Lady Fern is found in much the 
same localities as the Male Fern, 
and much resembles it in general appearance; but, even 
apart from the shape and position of the groups of 
spore-cases, it may be distinguished by its more delicate 
texture and its more finely-divided fronds, 
The Hart’s Tongue needs little description, for every- 
one knows at once the fern with undivided thick green 
fronds that one finds everywhere, sometimes on walls, but 
more frequently where the soil is rich with decaying 
vegetable matter. 
Akin to this group is the curious Scale Fern, in which 
the hood has disappeared, though the groups are still of 
the elongated elliptical shape. The place of the hood is 
taken by a thick coating of scales, which completely 
covers the back of the frond, and gives it a remarkable 
HARI’S TONGUE. 
