THE COMMON MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT. 127 



tufts from the crown, tapering, widest about the middle, 

 tapering at each end, simply pinnate, stipes very short, 

 wholly purple ; rachis also purple, in this respect being 

 distinguished from Asplenium viride, which is much like 

 it in other respects. Pinnae deep green, small, oval, 

 entire, opposite or alternate on the rachis, usually in 

 opposite or nearly opposite pairs, seldom reaching a 

 quarter of an inch in length. Fructification produced in 

 oblong sori, covered by oblong indusia. When these 

 fall off, the sporangia become confluent over the entire 

 under surfaces of the pinnae in this respect also differ- 

 ing from Asplenium viride, whose sporangia, when they 

 become confluent, occupy only the centre of the pinnae, 

 leaving a green, leafy margin around them. 



HABITATS. Rocks, walls, and old masonry of all 

 kinds, especially where, in the crevices which may have 

 been formed, leaf-soil has accumulated and moisture 

 has entered. Hence rocks or stony places by running 

 streams, bridge-arches, stone parapets, dwelling-house 

 and garden-walls, out-buildings, cliffs, and stony em- 

 bankments of all kinds. On the drier sides of such 

 habitats it is often stunted and puny, whilst on the 

 shady, moist, crumbling surfaces of rock or wall it 

 becomes much larger. In hedge and other embank- 

 ments, where the surface is sheltered by shrubs and the 

 soil is rich especially where its roots are snugly en- 

 sconced under fragments of stone which may lie upon 

 the face of an incline this species assumes its finest and 

 most luxuriant proportions. But such fine specimens 

 require, ordinarily, to be sought for, as, hid beneath the 

 friendly shelter of the superincumbent bushes, which 

 promote the shadiness, the moisture, and the richness of 

 soil of their habitats, they are not conspicuous, and are 

 often entirely concealed from the passer-by. 



WHERE FOUND. In England, in the counties of 

 Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Cambridge, Chester, Cornwall, 

 Cumberland, Derby, Devon, Dorset, Durham, Essex, 



