HARD FERN. 45 



ture. In Ward's cases, where its size is suitable, it 

 should have the upper and dry portions of rock-work. 

 From the experiments of M. Wollaston it was found 

 that a soil of sandy loam is best adapted for its suc- 

 cess, as it requires less moisture than most other 

 ferns ; in fact, the crown or centre of growth should 

 never be wetted. 



A variety of this fern, believed by many botanists 

 to be a distinct species, Asplenium Trichomanes viride 

 (the Green Spleenwort), is known by its stem being 

 green instead of black or dark-brown at the base only. 



HARD FERN. 



BLECHNUM SPICANT. ]/ 



\Bentham, Roth, Whithering, and J/oore.] 

 (Fig. 26.) 



SYNONYMS. 



BLECHNUM BOREALE. Swartz, Smith, Babington, and 



Hooker. 



LOMARIA SPICANT. Desveux. 

 OSMUNDA SPICANT. Linnaeus. 



THIS hardy fern has simply pinnate fronds, tufted, 

 of two kinds fertile and barren. The fertile fronds 

 are in the centre of the tuft, erect, from a foot to a 

 foot and a half high, with narrow acute segments. 



