LADY FERN AND SPLEENWORTS 73 



The Wall Rue is really a very common Fern, 

 but it is often overlooked when hiding in the 

 dark crevice of some old wall. The plant has 

 a wonderful habit of adapting itself to dry 

 conditions. It is of easy cultivation if it can 

 be given an open and well-drained situation. 

 The Wall Rue is an evergreen plant. 



Asplenium adiantum-nigrum. In this case 

 the specific name is formed of two words, the 

 first of which belongs to the true Maidenhair 

 Fern. As has already been explained, it 

 comes from a Greek word which means " un- 

 wetted," a reference to the fact that the 

 fronds do not become damp when it rains. 

 The word nigrum, of course, simply means 

 black, and is obviously an allusion to the 

 colour of the leaf -stalks of this Fern. The 

 Black Maidenhair Spleenwort. 



A very pretty Fern, which in some ways is 

 to be regarded as the most attractive of all 

 the Spleenworts. The species varies a good 

 deal according to the situation in which it is 

 growing. Thus in dry hedge-banks it will be 

 a comparatively small Fern, whilst when 

 growing in damper situations such as by the 

 side of a waterfall it will be very much larger. 

 The root-stock is thick and is densely covered 

 with scales, and from it arise the leaf-stalks, 

 which are black towards the base. The stipes 

 is usually about the same length as the leafy 

 portion. In the varying forms the fronds 

 range from about four inches to a foot, or 

 even more, in length. In the smaller examples 

 the fronds are twice pinnate, whilst the larger 

 leaves may be thrice pinnate. The general 

 outline of the frond is triangular, and the 

 pinnae, which are arranged alternately on 

 either side of the rachis, are somewhat similar 



