LADY FERN AND SPLEENWORTS 75 



is developed, shows by its lanceolate outline 

 a marked feature which distinguishes it from 

 the triangular outline to be seen in the case 

 of the Black Maidenhair Fern. The frond is 

 twice pinnate, and as a rule the pinnae are 

 opposite ; these are roughly egg-shaped in form. 

 The pinnules have serrated margins. 



The son are placed on veins which branch out 

 from the mid- veins of the pinnules. At first the 

 collections of sporangia are long and narrow, 

 and covered with a white indusium. As the 

 capsules mature the son spread out over the 

 under-surface of the frond. 



The Lanceolate Spleenwort is usually met 

 with near to the sea or in mountainous districts. 

 It is rather local, although it sometimes occurs 

 in great plenty on damp rocks. It is said not 

 to occur in Scotland. In a suitable rocky 

 corner there is no reason why the Lanceolate 

 Spleenwort should not be grown in a garden. 

 The situation should be well drained, but a 

 sufficiency of water is needed. The Lanceolate 

 Spleenwort remains green throughout the 

 winter. 



Asplenium marinum. The specific name 

 marinum has, of course, reference to the fact 

 that the Fern is to be found near the sea. The 

 Sea Spleenwort. 



This is an interesting and a most beautiful 

 species, often growing abundantly from the 

 roof-crevices of caves on the coast. The root- 

 stock of this plant is stout, and from it are pro- 

 duced a large number of fine black roots which 

 penetrate into the rocky fissures. The fronds 

 are, as a rule, four or five inches in length, 

 though in favourable situations they may be 

 very much longer. The stipes is somewhat 

 short, hardly ever more than a third of the 



