^^^ WEISS' SPLEENWOBT. 



has ever recorded the discovery of a colony of germanicum ; 

 such a discovery would astonish the most earnest advocate for 

 its specific dignity. These are points that must not be passed 

 lightly over : they cannot be adduced in evidence against any 

 other received species. 



The opinion of Linneus appears to have been in favour of 

 combining this form with Ruta-muraria : in order to exemplify 

 this, I shall quote an observation by M. Jacquin, which stands 

 in his ' Miscellanea Austriaca,' appended to Wulfen's paper 

 already cited, and which is entitled " Plantse Rariores Carin- 

 thiacffi." Alluding to A. germanicum, there described as A. 

 alternifolium, he writes thus : — " Plantulam banc jam olim 

 crescentem inveni in Austria, circa Glocknitz, in rupibus calca- 

 reis, etiam mixtim cum Acrosticho septentrional!. Cum beatus 

 Linneus, quocum communicaverim, mordkus sitstlneret meram 

 esse Butce vmrarm varietatem, non ausus fui pro nova specie 

 proponere, et omiseram in stirpium agri Viennensis enumera- 

 tione." — Jacquin, Misc. ii. 61. 



Those who are familiar with the plant usually called Asple- 

 nium Breynii on the continent, must have observed its great 

 similarity to septentrionale, while still retaining the chief cha- 

 racteristics of germanicum ; so that a complete chain of forms 

 appears to exists, commencing with the normal Ruta-muraria 

 (see page 253), and passing, by means of such plants as are re- 

 ]Dresented in the figures at page 25 G, the true germanicum, at 

 page 258, and the Breynii just noticed, to the normal state of 

 A. septentrionale, which seems to produce abnormal fronds, as 

 if purposely to complete the series. If we form such a series, 

 where is the pteridologist who shall fix the point at which Ruta- 

 muraria ends and germanicum begins, or at which Breynii 

 ends and septentrionale begins 



? 



I have much pleasure in citing some remarks in opposition 

 to my view, from the pen of the Rev. T. Bell. 



" I am aware some botanists have remarked, that attenuated 

 forms of Asplenium Ruta-muraria approach indefinitelj^ near 

 A. alternifolium. I believe the two species have occasionally 

 been confounded, but I always regarded this as a mistake into 

 which no one could fall who had perfect specimens before him, 

 and who was not prepared to substitute the general aspect 

 and habit of the plants for their specific characters. As Mr. 



