74 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



in outline. The pinnules are shaped like 

 wedges and have toothed lobes. 



If we turn up a frond of the Black Maiden- 

 hair Spleenwort we shall discover the sori 

 situated on veins which issue from the mid- 

 veins of the pinnules. In their early days 

 these clusters are distinctly in the form of 

 lines, but after the throwing off of the indusia 

 they rapidly mature and spread to such an 

 extent that the whole of the under-surface 

 of the pinnule is covered. Often an entire 

 frond appears to be completely brown on its 

 underside. 



The Black Maidenhair Spleenwort is an 

 exceedingly common Fern. It occurs in almost 

 all parts of the United Kingdom, although, 

 of course, near towns it is usually rooted up. 

 The species is of very simple culture and will 

 be quite happy on an ordinary rockery. The 

 Black Maidenhair Spleenwort retains its fronds 

 throughout the winter. 



Asplenium lanceolatum. The specific name 

 has reference to the fact that the outline of the 

 frond is lanceolate. The Lanceolate Spleen- 

 wort. 



This is a species which in its early days is 

 sometimes confused with the Black Maiden- 

 hair Spleenwort. The fronds, which are 

 lanceolate in outline and about four inches 

 to a foot in length, arise from a tufted root- 

 stock ; the stipes is usually about a third of 

 the irond. The colour of the stipes, and also 

 part of the rachis, is bright brown, and this 

 contrasts finely with the handsome green of 

 the leafy portion. The actual length of the 

 fronds will vary to a considerable extent, 

 this depending upon the amount of moisture 

 available. The clesign of the frond, when it 



