OS 



BRITISH FERNS 



resources and, doubtless regarding this cataclysm as a usual thing, 

 it speedily pushed a host of fronds through the gravel, and grew, 

 thenceforth, season after season, as if at Snowdon's foot itself. 

 As regards varieties, only one was found, a very pretty tasselled 



Fig. 22. A. crispus. Varied forms of fronds on same plant. 



one, but this unfortunately died, as did a large number of true 

 seedlings which were subsequently raised by Mr. J. M. Barnes 

 from soil collected at the spot whence the original plant was lifted, 

 a spot presumably subsequently lost sight of, as no second attempt 

 is recorded. 



THE ASPLENIA (The Spleenworts) 



The Spleenwort genus is represented in the British Isles by no 

 less than ten species, viz. Asp. trichomanes, Asp. viride, Asp. 

 adiantum nigrum, Asp. lanceolatum, Asp. marinum, Asp. ruta- 

 muraria, Asp. septentrionale , Asp. germanicum, Asp. fontanum, 

 and Asp. ceterach, the last of which is usually known as Ceterach 

 officinarum, but by all generic distinctions is a true Spleenwort. 

 The allocation of Aihyrium fHix-fcemina to the Spleenwort family 

 is, in every Fern-grower's opinion, too absurd to be discussed, as it 



