PEENS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 73 



size is from six to eight inclies. Tlie outline is lanceo- 

 late ; the stalk about a third of its length. It is very 

 sinailar to that of the species yet to be described, the 

 Black Spleenwort, but its outline differs in this respect. 

 The form of the Black Spleenwort is always triangular 

 and broadest at the base ; but that of the Green Lanceo- 

 late species is truly lance-shaped, tapering from near the 

 middle towards the base. The frond is twice-pinnate ; 

 the pinnae are generally, but not always, opposite, and 

 egg-shaped and lanceolate in form. The pinnules are 

 usiiaUy inversely egg-shaped, and have the margins ser- 

 rated with deep teeth ; the larger pinnules being cut into 

 toothed lobes. 



The pinnules of this fern have a winding mid-vein, the 

 lateral veins are branched, one of the smaller of these 

 branched veins extending to each serrature of the 

 margin, and the fructification being placed near the 

 extremity, but not in a very regular manner. Each 

 cluster of capsules is at first long and narrow, and 

 covered with a linear white indusium. This soon dis- 

 appears, and the clusters crowd ultimately into roundish 

 masses. 



2. A. Adidntum-nigriim (Black Spleenwort). — Fronds 

 triangular, twice or thrice pinnate, pinna and pinnules 

 triangular, and sharply-toothed. This is a frequent and 

 ornamental fern, gracing the time-stained walls of many 

 an old church or ruin, or hanging down its graceful 

 sprays over rocks, or on the hedgebank of the dry but 

 shady lane. It varies somewhat in form under dif- 

 ferent circumstances ; it has generally a very elongated 

 triangular outline, the lowest pair of pinnae being larger 



