F1L1CES. 



1051 



5. Common Spleenwort. Asple- 

 nium Trichomanes, Linn. 



(Fig. 1279.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 576. Maidenhair, but not 

 the true one. See Adiant.) 



A neat little tufted Fern, usually 2 to 

 6 inches high, simply pinnate ; the slen- 

 der stalk usually black ; with numerous 

 obovate, orbicular or broadly oblong 

 segments, nearly equal in size, those 

 of the middle of the frond rather the 

 largest, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 lines long, 

 more or less toothed. Sori several on 

 each frond, oblong-linear and distinct 

 when young, but often uniting in a cir- 

 cular mass when old. 



On walls and rocks, throughout Eu- 

 rope and central and Russian Asia, ex- 

 cept the extreme north, in North and 

 South America, and in Australia. Com- 

 mon in Britain. Fr. the whole season. 



Fig. 1279. 



6. Green Spleenwort. Asplenium 

 viride. (Fig. 1280.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 2257.) 



Very near the common S., and con- 

 sidered, in the first edition of this Hand- 

 book, as a variety of it, and now ad- 

 mitted as a species only in compliance 

 with general custom. It is usually less 

 rigid, the segments rather shorter and 

 broader, especially on the upper side, 

 and the stalk is either entirely green or 

 brown at the base only. 



Among rocks in the mountains of cen- 

 tral and northern Europe. Not uncom- 

 mon in most mountainous districts of 

 Britain. Fr. the whole season. 



Fie. 1280. 



