82 



A TEEN BOOK FOE EVEETBODY. 



land." The fronds are longer and narrower in proportion 

 than in the Eock Spleenwort ; the outline also differs, 

 being equal and almost linear, not broader upwards, as 

 in the 'Rock Spleenwort. The leaflets point downwards 

 (refracted) and the fronds are proliferous. 



Prom this description, and the appearance as delineated 

 in his figure, Mr. Lowe may be right in regarding this as 

 a distinct species from the !Rock Spleenwort, but we are 

 not convinced that it would be prudent in any one, upon 

 the above-quoted very slender evidence, to include this 

 umongst British Terns as " a new species of Spleenwort 

 indigenous to Great Britain." 



BEISTLT SPLEEN WOET.^ 



The fronds grow in tufts, a little spreading, and of 

 variable size according to locality, at times not exceeding 

 3 inches, and occasionally reaching 18, the average being 

 about 6 or 8. The outline of the fronds is spear-shaped, 

 and they consist of a rather scaly stalk, with numerous 

 short branches diverging nearly at right angles, furnished 

 with irregular-shaped, often rounded leaflets, which, are 

 sometimes cut into lobes, and at others only tootlied at 

 the edges. The clusters of spore-cases are at first dis- 

 tinctly oblong, but as they approach maturity, by spread- 

 ing out at the centre they assume an almost circular form. 

 They are also developed nearer to the edge than to the 

 mid-rib of the leaflets, and unless care be taken in the 

 examination, this fern may prove a difficult one for a 

 beginner to determine. (Plate VIII., fig. 2.) 



The Bristly Spleenwort is seldom found far inland, being 

 abundant in Jersey, and less common in the southern 

 counties of England and "Wales. Yet it succeeds exceed- 

 ingly well in a case, at least as far as our experience goes. 

 Some authors have affirmed that it will not flourish under 

 these conditions, yet we have known it to do so, but to 

 attempt it out of doors would doubtless fail. In a hot- 

 iouse it will grow vigorously. 



"^^Asplenium lanceolatum, HuDS. 



