THE ASPLENIA 



73 



ASPLENIUM FONTANUM (THE SMOOTH ROCK SpLEENWORT) 



(Plate IV) 



Our plate (IV) and the illustration (Fig. 30) give a very good 

 idea of the construction of this Fern, which is a very pretty one. 

 It is very rare, but has been found in several 

 places on rocks and walls, though none of 

 such finds are of recent date. Several 

 varieties have been raised, but it is extremely 

 doubtful whether they are in existence, and 

 we therefore ignore them. Culture is easier 

 than with the two preceding species, good 

 drainage and a porous soil of turfy peat 

 with a little friable loam and plenty of 

 coarse silver sand suit it well. 



Fig. 30. Asp, fontanum 

 (Part of frond.) 



Refractum (Plate IV). — Is a very marked variety, the fronds of 

 which bear bulbils in the axils of the pinnae. Its history, however, 

 is obscure ; reported to have been found in Scotland. 



Asplenium Germanicum (The Alternate-leaved Spleenwort) 



(Plate VI) 



This is one of our rarest Ferns, and as will be seen by Fig. 31 

 and Plate VI, is of very simple make. It is a true rock Fern, and 

 has been found in Cumberland, Wales, and Scotland, frequently 



Fig. 31. Asp. Germanicum. 



associated with the very similar Fern, Asp. septentrionale. It 

 grows in small tufts, and has yielded no variety worthy of note. 

 Its culture must imitate its conditions as far as possible ; thorough 

 drainage, porous sandstone mixed with the soil, and as dry con- 

 ditions as are consistent with fern existence. 



Asplenium Lanceolatum (The Lanceolate Spleenwort) 



(Plate VI) 



This is by no means a widely spread species, being found as a 

 rule only in the vicinity of the coast, where it occupies the chinks 

 of stone dykes, the fissures of rocks, and similar habitats to those 



