THE ROCK SPLEENWORTS. 



.65 



broad base and graduated upward to the pinnatifid apex. 

 The lower pinnae are stalked and elongated-triangular in 

 shape, with lanceolate and sharply toothed pinnules, as 

 are also the pinnules near the tip of the frond. None of 

 them appear to be decidedly wedge-shaped. The short 

 sori are borne on most of the fronds and early become 

 confluent over the under surface as in the wall rue. 

 Occasionally the lower sori are double. Fronds ten 

 inches long are reported from Kentucky, and Williamson 

 is quoted as having collected a plant in that state hav- 

 ing more than fifty fronds. 



The mountain spleenwort is found 

 sparingly from Connecticut and New 

 York to Georgia and Arkansas. It is 

 an inhabitant of the precipices in 

 mountainous regions and frequently 

 grows in inaccessible niches. Lantern 

 Hill in Connecticut, near the Rhode 

 Island State line is its limit, northeast- 

 ward so far as known. Writing of this 

 station for it, in the Fern Bulletin, Dr. 

 C. B. Graves says, " Asplenium monta- 

 num is able to maintain itself on the 

 driest and most exposed cliffs provided 

 there are holes and crevices which af- 

 ford a holding place. In such sit- 

 uations it is much stunted and incon- 

 spicuous, the fronds sometimes fruiting 

 when less than half an inch in length. 

 It reaches its best development on moist, shaded, over- 

 hanging ledges." This species usually chooses situations 

 similar to those selected by the wall rue, and may be 

 looked for wherever the latter is found. No doubt there 



Fertile frond of 



MOUNTAIN 



SPLEENWORT. 



