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ASPLENIUM. 



GENUS I. 



ASPLENIUM. LiNN^us. J. Smith. 



The numerous Ferns in the genus Asplenium have beeji split 

 into many divisions by different writers upon cryptogamic botany. 



The name is derived from a — without, and splen — the spleen, 

 from the circumstance that it was supposed these plants had 

 some peculiar medical property which cured affections of the 

 spleen. 



The sori are linear, oblong, or elongated, simple and uni- 

 lateral; with an indusium linear, plane, or vaulted, and cylin- 

 drical; veins forked or pinnate, venules direct and free. 



Fronds simple, pinnate, or bi-tripinnate, varying from two 

 or three inches to three feet in length. 



The following are the different sections of various authors: — 

 Euasplenium, in which Asplenium marinum is an example. 

 Trichomanes , in which A. trichomanes is an example. Darea, 

 having A. viviparum as an example. Acropteris, in which is 

 classed A. ruta-muraria. Adiatitum nigrum, A. adia?itum niffi^um 

 being an example. Athyrium, containing amongst others, A. 

 Jilix fcemina. Allantodia, comprising several foreign Ferns. 



This genus is represented in Great Britain by eleven 



species: — Asplenium adiantum nigrum, A. acutum, A. septentrio- 



nale, A. ruta muraria, A. Gcrmanicum, A. Jilix fcerniiia, A. 



fontanum, A. trichomanes, A. viride, A, lanceolatum, A. marinum. 



