150 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
ASPlDlVM—contumed. 
l-eafletis are very leatliery and dark shining green, nearly 
spear-shaped, the central ones 2in. long and ^in. broad ; their 
edge is more or less deeply lobed. The sori are disposed in 
two or four rows. 
ASPLENIUM. 
Spleenwort is the popular name given to this 
genus, on account of the supposed property of curing 
affections of the spleen with which these plants 
were formerly credited. Aspleniums differ from 
most other Ferns by the disposition of their sori, 
which are attached to the veins, and which, instead 
of being parallel with either the midrib or the 
margin of the frond, are oblique to the midrib, and 
are of a peculiar linear-oblong shape. The family is 
very rich in plants suitable for decoration, and those 
with long, drooping fronds are, on account of their 
leathery texture, particularly well adapted for hang- 
ing-baskets. Worthy of remark, too, is the number 
of native Aspleniums that may fairly lay claim to 
be classed as choice. 
The genus, as now understood, includes 
Ajiisogoniiim, Athyrium, Ceterach, Ccenopteris, 
Darea, Diylazium, Eitasiolenium, Hemidictyum, 
N eottojjteris , and I'JiamiiojJteris , 
Aspleniums succeed best in a mixture of fibrous 
loam, peat, and sand, in equal proportions. In 
potting, great care should be taken that the drainage 
is as perfect as possible, as, if it is at all defective, 
the plants will soon become flabby and generally out 
of condition. With the exception of a few dwarf 
species, which grow naturally in walls or in fissures 
of rocks, Aspleniums, above all, dislike being potted 
hard. Though many will stand the full rays of the 
sun under glass, it is not beneficial in any way to 
the plants, which, instead of being of a healthy, 
bright, shining green colour, as nearly all of them 
are when in good condition, have a yellowish tint, 
although they may perhaps be hardier than those 
grown in partial shade. Being native of countries 
very distant from one another, and being found 
wild under totally different conditions, it will be 
