THE ROCK SPLEENWORTS. 
Asplenium Ebenoides. 
Still rarer than the pinnat- 
ifid spleenwort is Asplentum 
ebenoides. It can hardly be 
said to have a definite range. 
Here and there plants have 
been found over a wide terri- 
tory, and new stations be. 
yond its known distribution 
are occasionally reported, 
but in nearly every case the 
surroundings are such as to 
indicate the possibility of its 
being a hybrid between two 
more common ferns, A sp/c- 
nium ebeneum and Camptoso- 
rus rhizophyllus. Much ink 
has been wasted in arguing 
for and against this theory of 
hybridity and botanists are 
still divided in opinion 
regarding it. Those 
who favour the theory pe Vay: 
point as evidence to 
the facts that the spores 
are generally abortive, that its 
fronds are exceedingly variable in 
shape, and that it occurs only here 
and there asachance hybrid might 
do and always in the vicinity of 
its supposed parents. Those who 
believe it to be adistinct species 
Asplenium ebenotdes. 
