270 THE FERN PARADISE. 



Delighting as it does in an atmosphere of mois- 

 ture, it should be planted where it can secure the 

 conditions which it requires. It may be grown 

 in the rockery or in pots in the house. But under 

 a covering of glass it will thrive admirably, for 

 there it can most easily secure the moisture which 

 it loves. 



7. THE COMMON MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT. 



Aspleniunt trichomanes. 



THIS fern and the Green Spleenwort are very nearly 

 related indeed; the great distinction being that 

 Viridi, as its name seems to imply, has nearly the 

 whole of its stipes and the whole of its rachis of a 

 bright green, whilst Trichomanes, when mature, 

 has both the stipes and rachis on its fronds of a 

 dark, shining, purple colour, approaching to black. 

 The Common Maidenhair Spleenwort is, too, as its 

 name indicates, far more plentiful, and far more 

 widely distributed throughout the United King- 

 dom, than its half-sister Viridi. It is, too, hardier 

 than the latter, and easier of cultivation. The 



