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HANDY BOOK OF 
luxuriantly, and invite many an adventurous botanist to 
scale the dizzy heights whereon they grow. 
You may not find them in Scotland, nor yet in the 
Emerald Isle, whose waters yield the most beauteous sea- 
ls* Variety. Ind Variety. 3rd Variety. 
SPEAR-SHAPED SPLEEXWORT. 
weeds. In Merionethshire they are located near Barmouth, 
on rocks and walls ; in Caernarvonshire, on a rock to the 
left of the road between Tan-y-bwlch and Aberglaslyn, and 
on a second rock close to the latter place. 
But though the roots (as above mentioned) are long and 
penetrating, and evidently designed to anchor the small 
fern in its exposed growing-places, it is found occasionally 
on old stone walls, sheltered from the winds of heaven. 
The rhizoma is brown, tufted, and densely covered with 
bristle-like scales ; these should be carefully preserved, as 
somewhat of the character of the plant depends on them. 
The youg fronds open with the hawthorn and harebells, in 
May, when the cuckoo's " one word spoken" rejoices the 
young enthusiast who spends his summer holiday in woods 
and meadows. August witnesses their maturity, and 
during the months of Avinter they continue fertile. 
Listen now to the distinctive characteristics which per- 
