Wayside, Seaside, and Rock Ferns 



It may be as well to state here that this fern is con- 

 fined to England and Ireland, and does not extend into 

 Scotland. It is known, botanically, as AsfltniuM 

 lanceolatum. The reason for its specific name has 

 already been given. 



On a drier part of the rock, grows the Black Maiden- 

 hair Spleen wort Fern which, as may be judged from its 

 tougher leaves, appears to be better adapted to dry 

 situations than the Lanceolate Spleenwort. Though 

 frequently found on the sides of waterfalls and in the 

 hedgerows, its favourite habitats are walls and rocks. 

 It is a very common fern throughout Britain. Its 

 fronds, varying from 6 to 1 2 inches in length, are twice 

 pinnate and in large specimens frequently thrice 

 pinnate. In outline it is roughly triangular in shape, 

 tapering away to a long point. Each separate pinna 

 also shows the triangular form with base towards the 

 rachis, while each pinnule is wedge-shaped and cut into 

 toothed lobes. The rootstock is thick and covered 

 with scales. Like so many of the Spleenworts, this fern 

 has leafstalks of a brownish black colour towards the 

 base. The sori, when old, run together, and are so 

 numerous as almost to cover each little pinnule. At first 

 they are covered by whitish-brown indusia, which latterly 

 disappear. 



This fern is named Aspknium Adiantum-nigrum. 



Adiantum is formed from a Greek word meaning 



" unwetted," and is applied to this fern, because its 



fronds, like those of the true Maidenhair Fern, whose 



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