ALLOSOEUS ASPLENIUM. 



175 



ALLOSOEUS. 



A genus of Ferns containing a solitary species. The name 

 means allos, various, and sons, a heap : the sori or spore- 

 masses presenting varied appearances as they develope them- 

 selves. 



ALLOSOEUS CEISPTTS (Curled), Fig. 74. This pretty Pern 

 is found plentifully on the blue slate rocky hills of Wales and 



Cumberland. It has two 

 kinds of fronds, one barren, 

 and the other spore-bearing 

 or fertile. Barren fronds 

 twice-divided or bipinnate; 

 pinnae often divided again, 

 and twice-cut at the edges, 

 giving the plant a parsley- 

 like appearance. From this 

 circumstance collectors often 

 call it the Parsley Fern. 

 Fertile fronds are also bipin- 

 nate, and even tripinnate at 

 the lower part of the frond ; 

 pinnse contracted on one side. 

 The plant is very dwarf, 

 seldom reaching 6 inches 

 high. It forms a pretty, 

 neat, evergreen patch, and 



should always be planted 

 Fig 74.. Allosorus crispus. (Tops of barren ,, . 



frond and fertile frond ; segment of feitile amongst small stones, consi- 

 derably elevated. Increased 

 readily by dividing the creeping rhizome. 



ASPLENIUM. 



ASPLENIUM ADIANTUM: NIGBUM (Black Adiantum). A neat 



