THE SPLEENWORTS. Cl 



tncisum, has the pinnae deeply pinnatifid, with linear notched 

 segments. Another, equally rare and still more beautiful, 

 has the ends of the fronds tasselled : this is called cristatum. 



The species occurs rather plentifully, growing on rocks, 

 old walls, and ruins, and less frequently on hedgerow banks. 

 It is pretty generally distributed throughout the United 

 Kingdom and Ireland ; and also occurs throughout Europe, 

 and in each of the other divisions of the globe. 



When once established, this plant grows readily either 

 in pots or on rockwork; but its roots being wiry, and 

 generally inserted into the crevices of the walls or rocks 

 on which it grows, it is sometimes found to be difficult to 

 transplant. In general the smaller and younger plants 

 may be removed with greater success than the larger and 

 older ones. The newly transplanted roots should be kept 

 rather close, if possible, for a short time ; but after they 

 are established, shade is not so essential to this species as 

 to most other Ferns, although it grows most vigorously 

 under the influence of shade and shelter. In a Wardian 

 case, for which its size is suitable, it should have the upper 

 and drier parts of the rockwork. 



SEA SPLEEN WOKT. [Plate VI. Fig. 1.] 



The proper or scientific name of the species is Asplenium 

 marinum. 



It is a very handsome evergreen maritime Fern of tufted 

 habit, with linear or linear-lanceolate fronds, usually six or 

 eight inches long, of the deepest glossy green, with a smooth, 

 rather short, dark brown stipes. The fronds are simply 

 pinnate, with stalked pinnae, connected at their base by a 

 narrow wing which extends along the rachis ; their form is 

 either obtusely ovate or oblong, unequal at the base, the an- 

 terior base being much developed, while the posterior is, as 

 it were, cut away, the margin being either serrated or 

 crenated. They are of leathery texture, but the veins are 

 nevertheless tolerably evident, each pinna having a midvein, 

 from which venules are given off alternately on either side, 

 these again producing a series of veinlets. The sori are pro- 

 duced on the anterior side of each venule, lying obliquely, 

 and forming two rows on each side the centre ; they are 

 oblong or linear, covered by a persistent indusium, which 

 opens along the anterior margin as the spore-cases grow to- 

 wards maturity. 



The chief variation to which this Fern appears subject is 

 that of the elongation of its parts. Sometimes the pinnae 



