78 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



in which the cutting-out of the lobes has been 

 devised. The segments of the fronds occur 

 alternately on the rachis. 



At first glance it is not an easy matter to 

 discover the sori, for the back of the frond of 

 this Fern is completely covered with brown 

 scales ; these are, however, white in the early 

 days of the leaf. 



By removing the scales it is possible to see the 

 groupings of the sori ; these are arranged in the 

 form of rough lines. There is no very clear 

 indication of an indusium, and indeed when one 

 considers the protective scales this hardly seems 

 to be necessary. It is generally considered 

 that the scales on this Fern act in a protective 

 manner during the long spells of dry weather. 

 In such a condition the fronds of the Scaly 

 Spleenwort appear to be trying to roll right 

 up, whilst the lobes close in towards each other. 

 To all appearance the plant is dead. It soon 

 revives, however, after a good shower of rain. 



The Scaly Spleenwort is to be looked for in 

 limestone districts, where it occurs on old walls 

 or amongst rocks, often in great abundance. It 

 is said to be less common in Scotland than in 

 other parts of the United Kingdom. Under 

 cultivation the Scaly Spleenwort often comes to 

 grief through excessive moisture ; it is most 

 happy in a crevice on a rockery. The Scaly 

 Spleenwort is an evergreen plant. 



Asplenium trichomanes. The specific name 

 is probably formed of two Greek words thrix, 

 " a hair," and manos, " soft." This is doubtless 

 a reference to the hair-like nature of the leaf- 

 stalks. The Maidenhair Spleenwort. 



This is a very familiar Spleenwort, not infre- 

 quently sold as the Englisi Maidenhair. The 

 plant has a stoutish root-stock, from which grow 



