CRnilP V fERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND SIMILAR; 

 V SPORANGIA IN LINEAR OR OBLONG FRUIT - DOTS 



imen of the Mountain Spleenwort. The short, broad 

 fronds were somewhat leathery, with only a few pin- 

 nae. Considering its lack of size, the little cluster, 

 springing from the bare rock, made so definite and 

 interesting a picture that we tried to photograph it 

 as it grew. But after some time spent in striving to 

 secure a foothold for the tripod, and at the same 

 time for the photographer, we gave up the attempt 

 as hopeless. 



In England the Rue Spleenwort is found growing 

 on old walls, specially on their northern sides, also 

 on church-towers, bridges, and ruins. It is said to 

 be difficult to cultivate. 



Formerly this fern yielded a decoction which was 

 supposed to be beneficial in attacks of pleurisy and 

 of jaundice. 



J 39 



