THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



878 



Genus 5, Athyrium. 

 Dorsal-fruited ferns, having oblong-reni- 

 form indusia, attached by their concave side, 

 and ringed with hair-like segments. Com- 

 prise; Felix-Fain ina only. 



Athyrium Felix-Foamina (Common 



Lad) Fern). — This delicate-looking and 

 elega it fern grows in a circular manner from 

 1 to 2 ft. high. The fronds are lanceolate, 

 bipinnate ; the pinnae lanceolate, and the 

 pinnules pinnatifid with sharply toothed 

 lobes. Venation consists of a wavy midvein, 

 alternate veins, and alternate venules. The 

 sori are oblong, the basal ones are hippocripi- 

 form (horse-shoe) shape and are covered by 

 iudusia of the same shape. Fronds appear at 

 the e.id of May. 



Athyrium Felix-Fcemina var. Multifidum. 

 — This beautiful variety has the tips of all 

 the fronds and pinnae multifid or tasselled. 

 The Lady Fern is found in damp woods and 

 hedgesides. There are 53 varieties. 



Genus 6, Asplenium. 



Dorsal-fruited ferns, having straight and 

 elongate indusia, attached towards the mar- 

 gin of the pinme or pinnules. Comprises, 

 Vulgare, Viride, Alternifolium, Ruta-Muraria, 

 Marinum, Lanceolatum, and Adiantum. 



A^olenium Vulgare, or A. Trich- 

 omaiies (common Spleenwort). — This small 

 Fern grows in tufts from 3 to 6 inches high. 

 Fronds are pinnate, with stipes of a purplish- 

 black, and the rachis of the same color. 

 Pinnae are small, deep green, numerous, 

 nearly uniform, roundish-oblong in shape, 

 and attached to the rachis by a stalk-like 

 projection of the posterior base. Venation is 

 distinct with midvein and numerous veinlets. 

 Each sorus is produced on the anterior of the 

 veinlets, just within the margin of the pinnae : 

 at first it is cr vered with an indusium. but 

 afterwards becomes somewhat confluent. 

 Fronds spring vp about the beginning of May. 

 Foi? A on rocks, walls, and ruins. There are 

 3 varieties. 



Asplenium Viride (Green Spleenwort). 

 — This elegant little fern has such a great 



resemblance to A. Vulgare that the above 

 description will suffice, with the exception 

 that the rachis is perfectly green, which 

 distinguishes it without the unnecessary use 

 of other technical terms. Found in moist, 

 I rocky, and mountainous districts. There is 

 one variety. 



Asplenium Furcatum, or A. Sep- 



tentnonale (Forked Spleenwort).— This 

 diminutive fern forms large masses of tufts. 

 The fronds are very small, of a dull green 

 color, and grow from 2 to 5 inches high. The 

 stipes is rather long, and dark purple at the 

 base. Fronds are elongate, lanceolate, and 

 I the apices forked. The sori, which are linear 

 in form, are so numerous that they form a 

 confluent mass of spore cases. This Asplenium 

 is sometimes mistaken for a Scolopendrium. 

 Found on rocks and walls. It is rare and 

 local. 



Asplenium Alternifolium (Alternate 

 Spleenwort) is a diminutive species, growing 

 in small tufts from 3 to 6 inches high. Tim 

 fronds are small and narrow, linear, pinnate, 

 and alternate. The Venation is very in- 

 distinct, there being no midvein. Each 

 pinna bears 2 or 3 linear sori. This fern is 

 considered by some botanists to be a variety 

 only of the Asplenium Ruta-muraria. It is 

 one of our rarest ferns, and is said to be found 

 in lake districts. 



Asplenium Ruta-Muraria (Rue- 

 leaved Spleenwort). — A diminutive plant, 

 growing in dense tufts, with numerous black 

 fibrous roots. Fronds are numerous, dark 

 green, from 1 to 5 inches high, the leafy part 

 triangular and bipinnate. The pinnaa are 

 alternate, with oborate pinnules. The upper 

 margins of the lobes or pinnules are serrated. 

 Venation very indistinct, and the sori 

 produced near the centre of the pinna. 

 Fronds appear in May. Found on walls. It 

 is common. 



j Asplenium Marinum (Sea Spleen 

 ] wort). — This maritime species is of tufted 

 < habit, from 6 to 8 inches in height, and of 

 ! linear-lanceolate form, d up-green, with a 



