THE SPLEEN WOJttTS. 



charming little plant, having one of the freshest 

 and most delightful of the Hues of fresh and 

 delightful green. 



7. 



THE GEE EN SPLEENWOBT. 



Asplenium viride. 



PLATE 7, FIG. 7. 



FERN of the rocky moorland and the 

 mountain stream; not rare, but local 

 in its distribution. It grows in the 

 moist interstices which lie between the stony 

 masses. But it mostly loves a rocky home in 

 immediate contiguity to the soft vapour of the 

 wild cascade. It delights to grow in the tiny 

 trickle caused by percolating water. Little wiry 

 fibrous rootlets, that plunge within the hearts of 

 rocks in search of the soft veins of leaf -mould ; a 

 black, tufted root-stock, from which start the 

 lovely fronds ; a short stipes, purple at its base, 



383 



