274 THE FERN PARADISE. 



found growing away from the sea, and even 

 in these rare instances the plants have been 

 removed but a short distance from the direct 

 influence of the sea air. The true habitat of 

 the Sea Spleenwort is the open sea coast ; 

 sometimes on the outside face of the rocks, 

 and sometimes within shadowy caverns. It 

 not only grows in crevices between the rocks, 

 but on the rock itself, into which it insinuates 

 its roots. Sometimes it grows on the roofs 

 and at the sides of dripping caverns ; and in 

 such situations it will often spread its roots 

 like a web over the damp, stony surfaces. 



Its fronds are leathery in texture, and of 

 so bright, fresh, and shining a green colour 

 that it is positively refreshing to look upon 

 them. Average specimens are six or eight 

 inches long ; but in dripping sea caves they 

 sometimes hang pendant from the roofs, and 

 reach a length of as much as eighteen inches. 

 The shape of the frond of the Sea Spleenwort 

 is narrowly oblong, broadest about the centre, 

 narrowing slightly towards the base, tapering 



