TliE SPLEENWOKTS. 



loves to grow on rocks and walls, even preferring 

 the latter, and oftentimes growing abundantly 

 within town limits, on barn and garden walls, and 

 even on house walls. Average specimens are 

 about three or four inches in length ; but, under 

 favourable conditions, they may attain a length 

 of six, seven, eight, or more inches. They are 

 believed to have an especial fondness for old 

 mortar. Hence the reason why they are so fre- 

 quently found on old wails. 



The frond of the Scaly Spleenwort has a short 

 stipes, scale-covered ; and its upper portion con- 

 sists of one elongated, deeply and widely scalloped 

 leaf ; or, perhaps, to make the explanation clearer, 

 it would be desirable to liken the frond of the 

 Scale Fern to a coarse, double-edged saw ; but 

 what would correspond to the teeth of the saw 

 are blunt-pointed lobes. The frond is widest 

 at its centre, and tapers at each end. It has 

 a thick midrib or rachis. What constitutes 

 the peculiar elegance of the Scale Fern is the 

 contrast presented by the two sides of the frond. 

 Its upper surface is of a rich bluish-green, soft 

 ana velvety to the touch; its under surface is 



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