84 The Ferx Lover's Compaxiox 



(3) Small Spleexwort 

 A-^'pIciiium pdrnthnii. A. resiliciis 



Fronds four to ten inches tall, narrowly linear, rather 

 firm, erect. Pinna- opposite, oblong, entire or finely 

 crenate, and auricled at the base. Sti])es and rachis black 

 and shining. Midveins continuous. 



This small fern is a southern s])ecies lialf \Yay between 

 the maidenhair and ebony spleenworts, but ratlier more 

 like the latter from which it differs in being smaller and 

 thicker, and in having the fertile and sterile fronds of the 

 same size, ^lountains of Virginia to Kansas and .south- 

 ward. 



(6) Eboxt Spleexwort 

 Asploiiiim platyncuron. .1. ebhieum 



Fronds ui)right, eight to eighteen inches high, linear- 

 lanceolate, the fertile ones much taller, and pinnate. 

 Pinn;e scarcely an inch long, the lower ones ^'ery much 

 shorter, alternate, spreading, finely serrate or incised, the 

 base auricled. Sori numerou.s, rather near the midvein. 

 stipe and rachis lustrous brown. ("Ebony.") 



This rigidly upright but graceful fern flourishes in 

 rocky, oi)en woods, and on rich, moist lianks, often in the 

 neighborhood of red cedars. Having come upon it many 

 times in our ramliles, we should say it was not uncommon. 



A lightly incised form of the pinn;e has been described 

 as var. xerrafum. A handsome form discovered in Ver- 

 mont in 1900 fiy ]Mrs. Horton and named Horionw (also 

 called iiici.'nim) lias plume-like fronds with the pinna? cut 

 into oblifjue lol)es, which are coarsely serrate. 



