1052 



THE FERN FAMILY. 



7. Black Spleenwort, 



Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum, Linn. 

 (Fig. 1281.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1950. A. acutum, Bab. Man.) 



Fronds tufted, usually 6 inches to a 

 foot high, including the rather long, 

 dark-brown or black stalk, the leafy 

 part triangular or broadly lanceolate, 

 of a dark shining-green, and firm con- 

 sistence, twice pinnate, or the lower part 

 three times ; the pinnas gradually de- 

 creasing, and less divided from the low- 

 est pair to the point ; the segments va- 

 rying from lanceolate to ovate or even 

 obovate, sharply toothed or cut. Sori 

 narrow-oblong or linear, sometimes, when 

 old, covering nearly the whole surface. 



On sandy hedgebanks, rocks, and old 

 walls, in central and southern Europe 

 and western and central Asia, extending 

 northward to southern Scandinavia. Oc- 

 curs also in some parts of the southern 

 hemisphere. Common in Britain. Fr. 

 all summer and autumn. 



Wallrue Spleenwort. Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Linn. 

 (Fig. 1282.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 150. Wall Rue.) 



Fronds densely tufted, usually 2 to 3 

 inches long, rather dark-green but not 

 shining ; the stalk more or less pinnately 

 divided ; the lower pinnas usually bear- 

 ing 3 segments, the upper ones simple ; 

 the segments all stalked, obovate or 

 broadly oblong, seldom above 2 lines 

 long, and usually minutely toothed. 

 Sori shortly linear, becoming united into 

 broad patches when old. 



On old walls, and rocks, throughout 

 Europe and central and Russian Asia, 

 except the extreme north, and in North 

 America. Common in Britain, except in 

 the Scotch Highlands, and some of the 

 Fig. 1282. eastern districts. Fr. the whole season. 





