632 THE PEEK FAMILY. 



2. Rock Spleen-ivort. Asplenium fontanum, Eenili. 

 {Aspidium, Eng. Bot. t. 2024.) 



Fronds densely tufted, 3 to 5 inclies high or near twice as much when 

 very luxuriant, smooth and shining, oblong-lanceolate in their general out- 

 line, but the broadest part above the middle, twice pinnate ; the longest 

 primary pinnas seldom above half an inch long, their segments 1 to IJ lines, 

 obovate, and deeply notched with 2 or 3 pointed teeth. Sori generally 2 

 or 3 only on each segment, shortly oblong, hke those of the lady S. 



On rocks and walls, in mountain districts, in central and southern Eu- 

 rope, extending probably into western Asia, but scarcely northward of the 

 Jura, except as an introduced plant. In Britain, it has been found occa- 

 sionally on walls in various parts of England, but probably not truly indi- 

 genous. Fr. summer and autumn. 



3. Lanceolate Spleenwort. Asplenium lanceolatum, Huds. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 240.) 



A low, tufted Eem, with twice-pinnate fronds, lanceolate in their general 

 outhne hke the last, but with much larger segments. Fronds usually 3 to 

 6 inches high, rarely attaining a foot when luxm'iant, the longest pinnas, 

 rather below the middle of the frond, 1 to Ij inches long ; the segments 

 obovate or broady oblong, narrowed at the base, but almost sessile, notched 

 ■with a few pointed teeth. Sori 2 to 4 on each segment, oblong and dis- 

 tinct when young, but when old united in an irregular mass, covering the 

 upper part of tlie segment. 



On rocks and walls, in western Europe, chiefly near the sea, extending 

 southwai'd to Madeira, and northward to the Enghsh Channel. In Bri- 

 tain, not vxncommon in the south-western and Welsh counties, and occurs 

 also near Cork, in Ireland, and near Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Fr. sum- 

 mer and autumn. 



4. Sea Spleenv^ort. Asplenium marinum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 392.) 



Fronds tufted, usually 6 mches to near a foot high, narrow-lanceolate in 

 general outlme, but coarser than in the lanceolate S. ; the stems usually 

 black, and only once pinnate. Segments obliquely lanceolate or nearly 

 ovate, rather tliick, obtuse, crenate, especially on the upper edge, narrowed 

 at the base into a short stalk, the longer ones, in the middle of the frond, 

 about an inch long. Sori several on each segment, linear, often above 2 

 lines long. 



On rocks and walls, near the sea, in western Europe, extending south- 

 ward to the Canary Islands, eastward to several spots along the Mediter- 

 ranean, and northward to Britain, where it is abundant on several parts of 

 the coast, even as far as the Orkneys. Fr. the whole season. 



5. Common Spleentvort. Asplenium Trichomanes, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 576. Maidenhair, but not the true one. See Adiant.) 

 A neat httle tufted Fern, usually 2 to 6 inches high, simply pinnate ; the 

 slender stalk usually black ; with numerous obovate, orbicular or broadly 

 oblong segments, nearly equal in size, those of the middle of the frond 

 rather the largest, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 lines long, more or less toothed. Sori 

 several on each frond, oblong-linear and distinct when young, but often 

 uniting in a circular mass when old. 



