i 5 8 



THE ROCK SPLEENWORTS. 



form from California is now regarded as a distinct 

 species. 



The Green Spleenwort. 



The green spleenwort (Asplenium viride), a rare and 



delicate little inhabitant 

 of rocky ledges in the 

 North, is at first glance 

 extremely like the maid- 

 enhair spleenwort and was 

 once considered 

 to be a variety 

 of it. But while 

 the resemblance 

 is strong, the 

 differences i n 

 structure are 

 stronger and 

 there can be no 

 doubt o f its 

 being distinct. 



The texture 

 of the frond is 

 much thinner 



than in A. Trichomanes and the stipe and rachis 

 are less wiry. The latter is also clear green in- 

 stead of polished brown. These characteristics 

 alone serve to distinguish this from the com- 

 moner species. The fronds are short, pinnate 

 with short-stalked, ovate, round-lobed pinnules GREEN 

 and seldom reach a length of six inches. S WORT?~ 

 They grow in little tufts from a diminutive rootstock 

 and form dense mats in suitable situations. The sori are 



GREEN SPLEENWORT. 



Asplenium viride. 



