riLiCES. 633 



On walls and rocks, tlu'oughout Europe and central and Eussian Asia, 

 except the extreme north, in North and South America, and in Australia. 

 Common in Britain. Fr. the whole season. The green S. (A . viride, Eng. 

 Bot. t. 2257) appears to be a mere variety, growing usually in mountain 

 districts, differing only in the stalk, which is either entirely green, or dark 

 brown at the base only. It occui-s not unfrequently in most mountainous 

 districts of Britain. 



6. Black Spleent^ort. Asplenium Adiantum-ni^um, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1950. A. acuttim, Bab. Man.) 



Fronds tufted, usually 6 inches to a foot high, including the rather long, 

 dark-brown or black stalk, the leafy part triangular or broadly lanceolate, 

 of a dark shining green, and firm consistence, twice pinnate, or the lower 

 part three times ; the pinnas gradually decreasing, and less divided from the 

 lowest pair to the point ; the segments varying from lanceolate to ovate or 

 even obovate, sharply toothed or cut. Sori narrow-oblong or linear, some- 

 times, when old, covering nearly the whole surface. 



On sandy hedge-banks, rocks, and old walls, in central and southern 

 Europe and western and central Asia, extending northward to southern 

 Scandinavia. Occurs also Ln some parts of the southern hemisphere. 

 Common in Britain. Fr. all summer and autmnn. 



7. Wallrue SpleeuTvort. Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. 1. 150. Wall-Rue.) 



Frondsi densely tufted, usually 2 to 3 inches long, rather dark-green but 

 not shining ; the stalk more or less pinnately divided ; the lower pinnas 

 usually bearing 3 segments, the upper ones simple ; the segments all stalked, 

 obovate or broadly oblong, seldom above 2 lir.es long, and usually mi- 

 nutely toothed. Sori shortly linear, becoming united into broad patches 

 when old. 



On old walls, and rocks, throughout Europe and central and Eussian 

 Asia, except tlie extreme north, and in North America. Common in Bri- 

 tain, except in the Scotch Highlands, and some of the eastern districts. 

 Fr. the whole season. 



8. Alternate Spleenivort. Asplenium germanicum, Weiss. 



{A. alternifolkm, Eng. Bot. t. 2258.) 



Very near the Wallrtie S., and perhaps a mere variety ; but the seg- 

 ments are much narrower, usually naiTow wedge-shaped or oblong, on 

 short stalks ; the whole frond narrow, usually simply pinnate, with the 

 lower segments 3-lobed, or very rarely bearuig 3 distinct segments ; the 

 segments entire or toothed at the summit . Sori few, long and narrow. 



On rocks and old waUs, dispersed over the greater part of Eui-ope, from 

 Spain to Scandinavia. Has been found in isolated locahties in western and 

 northern England, and southern Scotland. Fr. summer and autumn. 



9. Forked Spleentvort. Asplenium septentrionale, Hoffm. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1017.) 

 This again is allied to the Wallnte S., and has similar tufted fronds, 2 

 to 5 or 6 inches high ; but the whole frond usually consists of a stalk, forked 

 towards the top, each branch bearing a single, linear, entire or 2-lobed seg- 

 ment, about half an inch long, the linear sori occupying the whole under 



