SPLEENWORTS. 



77 



not an uncommon species. In mountain districts it is 

 abundant, and may often be seen flourishing on churches 

 and old walls in other localities. 



This fern may be planted on rock-work or walls out of 

 doors, or in a Wardian case ; but if the crowns are not 

 elevated so that water cannot rest upon them, the fronds 

 will " damp off." 



There is a crested variety of this little fern, and an* 

 other called cuneatum, in which the leaflets are more 

 acutely wedge-shaped, and altogether it closely resembles 

 the Alternate Spleenwort, with which it is sometimes 

 confounded. 



Lightfoot states, in his "Mora Scotica," that "it was 

 formerly received in the shops as a pectoral and deob- 

 struent, and recommended in coughs, asthmas, obstruc- 

 tions of the liver and spleen, and in scorbutic complaints, 

 but it is at present out of repute." 



GEEEN SPLEENWOET * 



Prom a tapering root-stock proceed downwards a tuft 

 of wiry rootlets, and upwards the bright green fronds of 



the Green Spleenwort. These fronds are seldom more 

 than from 4 to 6 or 7 inches in length, though sometimes 

 attaining to 10. They consist of a central wiry green 

 mid-rib or leaf- stalk (for both terms are equally right and 

 equally wrong, but racJiis is not considered popular), and 

 from a little above the base to the apex pairs of egg- 

 shaped leaflets. The stalk is dark coloured at the bottom 

 only, and green throughout the rest of its length. On 

 the under surface of each leaflet are from two to six lines 

 of spore-cases, which are at first distinct, but at length 



* Asplenium viride, Hud. 



