THE FERN PARADISE. 



so much divided as the widest branches of 

 the fronds of Adiantum-nigrum, which are, as 

 already stated, the lowest branches in the frond. 

 Another mark of recognition in Lanceolatum is 

 the peculiar arrangement of the cases containing 

 the ripened spores. In Adiantum-nigrum these 

 are at first arranged in lines at the backs of the 

 fronds ; then they become confluent, and often 

 densely crowd the entire under surface of the 

 leaflets. In Lanceolatum they are ordinarily ar- 

 ranged in little round bulged clusters, which are 

 distinct from each other. 



The Black Maidenhair Spleenwort is widely 

 distributed throughout the United Kingdom. 

 But Lanceolatum is much rarer, and is confined 

 in its range to the south and west of England, to 

 South Wales, to the south of Ireland, and to the 

 Channel Islands. In the Channel Islands it grows 

 very luxuriantly. It varies in size, from tiny 

 plants of some six inches in length to luxuriant 

 specimens of a foot and eighteen inches long. 

 Another peculiarity of Lanceolatum is that it pre- 

 fers the sea-coast, and is often found on rocks in 

 company with the Sea Spleenwort. In the same 



378 



