78 



A FERIT BOOK TOR EVERYBODY. 



run into each other. The colour of the spore-cases is of 



a more yellowish brown in the G-reen than in the Wall 

 Spleenwort, and they are also further distinguished by 

 the colour of the central stalk. 



Though not so common as the Wall Spleenwort, this is 

 not a rare species, being found in mountainous districts 

 in Great Britain, but less commonly in the sister island. 

 Dr. Hooker has lately received a specimen of this fern 

 from St. John's, JSTew Brunswick, collected on sea cliffs, 

 Taylor's Island. This discovery is a most interesting one 

 in connection with the glacial migration of Scandinavian 

 plants over the North American continent ; the plant 

 being common in the sub-alpine regions of Europe, and 

 also found in the Eocky Mountains, but not occurring in 

 Greenland, or in any other part of JSTorth America. 



There is no variety, save one in which the leaflets are 

 deeply cut into lobes, and it is doubtful whether that is 

 constant enough to be relied upon. This is a more deli- 

 cate plant, and requires more care than the common "Wall 

 Spleenwort in its cultivation. Whilst it seems impatient 

 of close confinement, it suffers out of doors, unless covered 

 by a hand-glass. 



COMMON WALL SPLEENWOET.* 



The dense tufts of this fern are generally from 4 to 7 or 

 8 inches in length, and consist of delicate narrow fronds. 



with a slender black shining leaf-stalk, on each side of 

 which the bright green leaflets are disposed in nearly 

 •^oposite pairs through the greater part of its length. 



*Asx>leniuin trichomanes Liitn, 



