158 THE ROCK SPLEENWORTS. 
form from California is now regarded as a distinct 
species. 
The Green Spleenwort. 
The green spleenwort (Asplenium viride), a rare and 
Hs nual delicate little inhabitant 
of rocky ledges in the 
North, is at first glance 
extremely like the maid- 
enhair spleenwort and was 
once considered 
to be a variety 
of it. But while 
the resemblance 
is strong, the Ke 
differences in 
structure are 
stronger and 
there can be no 
doubt of its 
being distinct. 
The texture 
of the frond is 
GREEN SPLEENWORT. P 
Asplenium viride. much thinner 
thanin A. 7richomanes and the stipe and rachis 
are less wiry. The latter is also clear green in- 
stead of polished brown. These characteristics 
alone serve to distinguish this from the com- 
moner species. The fronds are short, pinnate 
with short-stalked, ovate, round-lobed pinnules Ergnd.3f 
and seldom reach a length of six inches. "wort 
They grow in little tufts from a diminutive rootstock 
and form dense mats in suitable situations. The sori are 
