THE SPLEEN WORTS. 63 



in texture, of a deep green above, paler beneath, and sup- 

 ported on a very short stipes, which has a few narrow, 

 pointed scales at the base. They are bipinnate, the pinnae 

 oblong-ovate, and the pinnules obovate, tapering to the base, 

 the superior basal pinnule of each pinna having the margin 

 divided by four or five deep, sharp teeth, the rest of the 

 pinnules and lobes having from one to three similar teeth. 

 The main rachis of the frond, as well as the partial rachis 

 of each pinna, have a narrow leafy expansion along their 

 sides, throughout their length ; and this is perhaps the most 

 obvious technical point, except size, by which to distinguish 

 the present plant from A. lanceolatum. In structural details 

 they very much resemble each other. 



The fronds being rigid and opaque, the venation is often 

 less evident than is usual in Ferns. It consists, in each 

 pinnule, of a central or principal vein, which throws off a 

 venule towards each lobe or serrature. On two or more 

 of these veins a sorus is produced, which in form is short 

 compared with those produced by most of the genus ; the 

 form being oblong, rather flat on the side by which they 

 are attached, and covered by an indusium of similar form, 

 which is waved and indented on the free margin. Sometimes 

 the sori keep quite distinct, but it is not uncommon for them 

 to become confluent so as to cover nearly the under-surface 

 of the whole of the little pinnules. 



There are some who doubt this species being really a 

 native of Britain, on the ground that it is not now to be 

 found in the places where it is said to have been originally 

 met with. Considering the exact record of its discovery, and 

 considering, moreover, that it is a very small plant, and that 

 the places where it would < be most likely to occur are 

 generally the most inaccessible, and, therefore, the least 

 likely to be searched ; considering, further, the many pro- 

 bable localities which exist, and have not been carefully ex- 

 plored by any keen botanical eye, we are not justified in 

 rejecting the statements which the older botanists have left 

 us, although it has not recently been found in wild localities. 



This species grows freely planted in a well-drained pot, 

 and kept in a close cold frame ; in a damp hothouse it suc- 

 ceeds well, becoming much more vigorous under the influ- 

 ence of heat. 



LANCEOLATE SPLEENWORT. 



This is the Asplenium lanceolatum. It has recently been 

 called Taradda lanceolata. An evergreen Fern of variable 



