SHIELD FERNS. 



73 



The variety crispum is very small, and has whilst grow- 

 ing a pretty parsley-like appearance, from the complex 

 branching of the fronds. 



Certainly the most singular of all forms is that known 

 by the name of Frizellice^ in which the fronds are not an 

 inch in width, with kidney-shaped leaflets divided in two 

 parts, which overlap each other, and toothed at the edge. 

 These are attached to eacli side of the leaf-stalk, and more 

 resemble a large Spleen wort of the Trichomanes kind than 

 a variety of the Lady Eern. 



TRE SFLEENWOETS. 



Clusters of spore-cases elongated, and parallel, with a straight covering. 



The botanical name of the Spleenworts is Asplenmm, of 

 Greek origin, and associated originally with some species 

 of fern supposed tovbe beneficial in diseases of the spleen. 

 The clusters of spore- cases in this genus are lengthened 

 out into a kind of brown line, in which feature they agree 

 with the Gold and Silver Eerns ; but they differ from these 

 in the spore-cases having a true covering, which opens 

 along that side of the cluster which is towards the mid- 

 rib of the fern. Erom the Hart's Tongue Fern the 

 Spleenworts differ in the clusters not growing in pairs, 

 and in the splitting of the covering. 



The nine British species may, for our present purpose, 

 be classed in four sections. In one section the frond, 

 thoui:^h divided, has no proper leaflets. This contains — 



Forked Spleenwot{t. — The fronds are narrow and 

 spear-shaped, cleft in a forked manner. 



In the second section the frond is divided into leaflets 

 which are wedge-shaped. This includes — 



Alteeis'ate Spleen woet. — Leaflets single on either 

 side of the stalk ; 



Wall-Eue Spleeis^wort. — Leaflets in threes at the 

 ends, and on each side of the stalk. 



In the third section the leaflets of the frond are either 

 oval or oblong. This includes — 



