47 



is no difficulty in keeping it ; but it should be planted in sandy 

 peat, and the drainage secured by filling the pot about one-fourth 

 with pieces of old mortar and charcoal intermixed. Mr. Moore 

 recommends elevating the caudex a little above the level of the sol 1 

 between two or three pieces of soft sandstone, and I have no doubt 

 the plan would be advantageous in securing the growth of a small 

 specimen ; though, if the arrangement below be such as to prevent 

 any accumulation of superfluous moisture about the roots, a plant 

 once established is not liable to damp off under ordinary care. 

 Although a comparatively small species, I have found that it requires 

 considerable space to extend its roots, and that it is safer to use a 

 large than a very small pot, so that when settled it may remain 

 undisturbed for two or three years at the least. The increase by 

 division of the main caudex should be avoided by those who may be 

 desirous of retaining a fine specimen, as its growth is slow, and, 

 unless assisted by the temperature of a hothouse, liable to receive a 

 check that the plants do not readily recover. This remark is ad- 

 dressed to the amateur cultivator not possessing all the appliances 

 requisite to ensure success in propagation, and it is induced by 

 having witnessed the destruction of two noble specimens under the 

 infliction. It is an evergreen species, and, under cover, continues 

 its growth throughout the year. 



ASPLENIUM LANCEOLATUM. Lanceolate Spleenwort. TAB. XXVI.'. 



Fronds lanceolate, bipinnate : pinnae ovate-lanceolate : pinnules 

 obovate, deeply and sharply toothed. Rachis not winged. Sori 

 short, nearly marginal. 



Asplenium lanceolatum, Hudson. Smith. E. B. 240. Hooker and 

 Arnott. Moore. Babington. Newman. 



A very local species in this country, where it is almost exclusively 

 confined to the maritime counties of the south of England and 

 of Wales. Being a native of the Atlantic Islands and of the south 

 of Europe, it may be regarded rather as naturalized than indigenous. 

 In the Channel Islands, Jersey especially, it is most abundant. Its 

 favourite localities are in the crevices of rocks and old walls, and 

 lining the sides of wells and the shafts of deserted mines. The 

 fronds rise from a tufted base or crown, varying greatly according 

 to situation, in size, position, form, and even texture : they are of a 

 bright green colour, the lower part of the rachis excepted, which is 

 purplish-black, when growing exposed to light. In shady and 

 moist places they attain a length of twelve or eighteen inches, 

 while on dry rocks and walls they often do not extend to more than 

 two or three inches ; sometimes they are erect in growth, sometimes 



