258 THE FERN PARADISE. 



for the Forked Spleenwort will suit its near rela- 

 tive Asplenium Germanicum, namely, sandy peat 

 and leaf-mould for soil, and an arrangement of 

 little pieces of sandstone or freestone in the pot, 

 or in the cleft of the rockery where it is grown. 



3. THE RUE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT. 

 Asplenium ruta muraria. 



OF all our native ferns the Rue-leaved Spleen- 

 wort or Wall-rue is, perhaps, the most unpretend- 

 ing in appearance. Yet it is a most interesting 

 little fern, and will well repay study and care. It 

 is very diminutive, sometimes only growing to a 

 height of about one inch, but when growing 

 under very favourable conditions, in a wild state, 

 it will reach a length of several inches. It is 

 widely distributed, loving to fasten itself on old 

 walls, rocks, or the sides of bridges of all kinds, 

 spanning water. Often it is found growing on 

 church walls and the walls of dwelling houses. 

 It is, indeed, a familiar little fern, and is frequently 



