254 



EUE-LEAVED SPLEENWOET. 



Species. — Euta-muraeia. Caudex tufted: stipes longer 

 than frond : frond deltoid, composed of a few diamond-shaped, 

 stalked, leaf-like divisions : clusters of capsules linear, becom- 

 ing confluent and entirely covering the divisions of the frond. 



$mmm, jfipm, k. 



Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Linn. Sp. PI. 1541; Lightf. Fl. 

 Scot. 665 ; Hiuls. Fl. Ancj. 453 ; Bolt. Fil. Brit. 28, t. 16 ; 

 With. Arr. 769 ; Sm. E. F. iv. 309, E. B. 150 ; Franc. 45 ; 

 Newm. N. A. 27, F. 261; Hook. andArn.bTi; Bah. 

 414 ; Moore, 169, (excl. the lower right-hand figure). 

 Amesium Ruta-muraria, Neivm. F. 10, Phytol. App. viii. 

 Of the figures of this fern I cannot speak in high praise. 

 Concerning its nomenclature, no difference of opinion appears 

 to have arisen. 



It is generally distributed over the continent of Europe, 

 preferring towns and buildings to the open country. I am 

 indebted to Mr. Lea for specimens from the United States. 



Throughout the northern, western, and southern counties of 

 England, and also in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, this fern 

 is to be found on almost every ruin ; but, as regards England, 

 far less abundantly in the eastern than in the western counties. 

 In a perfectly wild state, it grows abundantly on the rocky hills 

 in Scotland, particularly on Arthur's Seat, near Edinburgh; in 

 the Peak district of Derbyshire ; on Cader Idris, and Snowdon 

 more sparingly. It is one of those plants which, like our half- 

 domesticated birds, the sparrow, the swallow, and the martin, 

 seem to have deserted their native wilds, and to have taken up 

 their residence amongst the habitations of men. It is abun- 

 dant on ruins and old churches, and has a strong predilection 

 for brick walls, although Sir J. E. Smith makes Ray assert that 

 " it dies whenever it gets upon burnt bricks," (Eng. Flor. iv. 

 297). The original passage is, " Lateribus coctis immoritur," 

 (Dill, in Raii Syn. 122) : Dillenius either used the verb immo- 



