A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
159 
ASPLtKNlUyi—contimied. 
portion of the fronds is oblong-spear-shaped, with numer- 
ous leaflets, the lower ones of which are spreading, spear- 
shaped, 3in. to Gin. long and lin. to l^in. broad, cut down 
to a compressed, winged stalk, into leafits which in their 
turn are again deeply incised. The texture is soft and 
papery. The sori are usually linear-oblong, though the 
lower ones are often curved. 
No British Fern is so variable in its forms and in its 
dimensions as this one, for its varieties, though they all pass 
into one another by various gradations, are innumerable. 
No good purpose would be served by describing these here. 
Anyone interested in such variations from the type would 
do well to purchase Druery's '^British Ferns.'' 
Fig. 73. Asplenium fontanum, one of the gems among the 
small growing species of the genus, pretty as to frond, and 
compact as to habit. 
A. flaccidum. 
Very variable, greenhouse, evergreen species, native of 
Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and one of the most 
appreciated of all the basket Ferns adapted to cool treat- 
ment. The fronds are from 2ft. to 3ft. in length, 4in. to Sin. 
broad, and are borne on stout, though flexible, greenish, 
naked stalks 4in. to Sin. long; these are furnished with 
numerous close or distant spear-shaped leaflets of a thick, 
leathery texture and deep green colour, 4in. to Sin. long, 
^in. to fin. broad, sometimes rather rigid and recurved, 
sometimes quite flaccid and drooping like the main stalk, 
occasionally deeply pinnatifid, but oftener cut down tO' the 
thick midrib into oblique or nearly sickle-shaped, narrow- 
linear lobes, upon which the sori are quite marginal. 
