70 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



stated with certainty. The Alternate-leaved 

 Spleenwort. 



This species is somewhat larger than the 

 last-named, though it is hardly so striking in 

 appearance, owing to the comparatively small 

 number of fronds which are produced. These 

 will, as a rule, be about four or five inches in 

 height, and they arise from a tufted root- 

 stock. The stipes is about the same length 

 as the leafy portion of the frond. The rachis 

 bears alternately curious wedge-shaped pinnae. 

 At the broad end these pinnae are toothed, 

 and these segments are more pronounced on 

 the lower than on the upper pinnae. The 

 fronds are of a fairly tough texture. 



On the backs of the pinnae we shall find the 

 sori, two or three lines of the collections of 

 sporangia being present on each division of 

 the frond. At first these are covered with 

 an indusium, but as the capsules ripen this is 

 thrown away and the clusters join together 

 in one mass. 



The Alternate-leaved Spleenwort is very 

 rare. It is, however, known to occur in a few 

 rocky localities in England and Scotland. 

 Probably it is often overlooked by the few 

 people who visit the more inaccessible parts. 

 It has proved to be rather a difficult subject 

 to grow, and it has a most annoying habit of 

 dying off suddenly, even when given a great 

 amount of care. Probably the real trouble is 

 that it is given too much water ; good drainage 

 would go a long way to meet the difficulty. 

 The fronds of the Alternate-leaved Spleenwort 

 sometimes survive the winter. 



Asplenium ruta-muraria. In this case the 

 specific name simply means " wall rue," and 

 refers to the resemblance which the Fern bears 



