1016 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS asplenium 



grows freely in well-drained sandy loam 

 and peat in warm sheltered parts of the 

 rock garden. It may also be grown in pots 

 in cool greenhouses. See also p. 1009. 



A. germanicum {A. alternifoUum). — 

 This is one of the rarest of our native 

 Ferns found growing among the rocks in 

 parts of Wales and N. Britain, forming 

 small tufts 3-6 in. high. The oblong 

 lance-shaped fronds, with blackish stalks, 

 are pirmately divided into a few distant 

 and alternate wedge-shaped pinnae, the 

 lowest of which are cleft or divided. 



Culture dc. as above. This species is 

 rather difficult to establish, but grows fairly 

 well in sandy loam and peat, well-drained, 

 with the addition of brick rubble. Except 

 in sheltered localities this species is apt to 

 die in winter. See also p. 1009. 



A. lanceolatum. — A native species 

 about 6-9 in. high, with bright green broadly 

 lance-shaped leaves, twice pinnately cut, 

 and having broad crowded acutely serrate 

 pinnules. The variety microdon is a rare 

 plant having pinnate fronds, the pinnse 

 being wavy and lobed, but not again 

 divided as in the type. The variety oris- 

 pafum is cut like the type, but the mar- 

 gins of the pinnules are curled inwards 

 and sharply toothed. 



Culture dc. as above. This species 

 grows on wet rocks in parts of England 

 and S. Ireland, nearly always near the 

 coast, and is very frequently met with in 

 the Channel Islands. It is only fit for the 

 milder parts of the country in warm moist 

 parts of the rookery. See also p. 1009. 



A. marinum (Sea Spleenwort). — A 

 beautiful tufted native Fern having a stout 

 rootstock clothed with purple - brown 

 chaffy scales, and oblong or lance-shaped 

 leathery fronds, pinnately divided into 

 oblong ovate orenate lobes 1-2 in. long, 

 and borne on stout shining reddish -brown 

 stalks. There are a few forms, vnibri- 

 catum, coronans, mirabile, Thompsoni, 

 and plumosum, being among the best. 



Culture dc. as above. The Sea 

 Spleenwort is very hardy and may 

 often be seen growing in the chinks of 

 dry old walls, but is then very small and 

 poor. It grows naturally near the sea- 

 cliffs and caves, and is best in warm 

 moist shaded places in parts of the rockery. 

 It is often grown in warm moist green- 

 houses, when it assumes luxuriant pro- 

 portions. See also p. 1009. 



A. Ruta-muraria (Wall Rue Spileen- 

 wort). — This is not a particularly hand- 

 some species, but may be included in a 

 large collection. It is found throughout 

 the British Islands on walls and rooks, 

 and may be recognised by its oblong or 

 ovate fronds, irregularly twice-pinnate into 

 rounded or truncate-toothed lobes. 



Culture do. as above. It may be 

 grown in well-drained sandy loam and 

 peat between the chinks of large stones 

 in the rock garden. See al^o p. 1009. 



A. septentrionale {Forked Spleenwort). 

 A rare little native Fern with a dense 

 tufted habit, and linear lance-shaped long 

 toothed fronds on rather long stalks pur- 

 ple at the base. The sori are at first dis- 

 tinct but become confluent with age. 



Culture dc. as above. This species is 

 found growing naturally on rocks and 

 walls, and may be grown in warm moist 

 parts of the rockery in sandy soil mixed 

 with brick rubble. See also p. 1009. 



A. Trichomanes {Maidenhair Spleen- 

 wort). — A dwarf tufted native Fern ren- 

 dered attractive and easily recognised by 

 its shining blackish or red-brown stalks, 

 and midrib, on each side of which the 

 deep green oblong bluntly toothed or 

 crenate lobes or pinnse are arranged with 

 great regularity. The fronds are linear in 

 shape, pinnate, and 6-12 in. long. There 

 are several good forms, among which may 

 be mentioned attenuatum, confluens, 

 cristatum, imbricatum, incisum, multi- 

 fidiim, Maulei, a,ndiramosum. 



Culture dc. as above. The true 

 Maidenhair Spleenwort is found growing 

 naturally on rocks, old waUs, ruins, and 

 occasionally hedgebanks in most parts of 

 the British Islands. It requires great care 

 in transplanting, as the wiry roots cannot 

 stand much injury. Once established, 

 however, it grows freely in warm moist 

 and somewhat shaded corners of the 

 rockery, and is attractive between the 

 chinks and crevices of rocks where it is not 

 likely to be disturbed. See also p. 1009. 



A. viride. — This elegant little British 

 Fern closely resembles .4. Trichomanes ia 

 appearance and habit, but is readily dis- 

 tinguished by the green and not black 

 colour of the raohis or midrib, and by the 

 shorter oblong or ovate crenate lobes of 

 the linear pinnate fronds. 



Culture dc. as above. It may be 

 grown like A. Trichomanes, but requires 



