ASPLENIUM VIRIDE. 67 
alternate, which are mostly, but not always, forked, and 
their ends rarely extend to the edge of the leafit. The 
fructification is from two to six masses on each leant, 
more yellowish-brown than in A. trichomanes, and more 
in the middle of the leafit than in that species, and 
though they finally usually run together and cover the 
back of the leafit, yet they never reach its edge, but leave 
a regular border of the leant round the ripe fructifica- 
tion. At first the fructification- is covered with a narrow 
membrane ; but this is thrown off as the seeds (spores) 
ripen, which occurs about the end of August. 
The frond branching at the end is not permanent 
even in the same plant, yet some botanists have 
distinguished it as a variety. It is the Asplenium 
trichomanes ramosum of Linnsaus, and the Trichomanes 
ramosus of Bauhin and some others. 
It will be seen from the above description that the 
species very closely resembles A. triehomanes, though, 
as observed by Mr. Francis, it is immediately dis- 
tinguished from it by the lighter colour of all its parts, 
and especially the greenness of the stalk, its less- 
spreading fructification, differently shaped and more 
alternate leafits, which leafits on the lower part of the 
frond are generally wide apart, whilst the leafits near 
its top are more crowded, and the whole plant is much 
more delicate and graceful. T- (Analysis of British 
Ferns. 52.) 
It is found on moist rocks and old walls in some of 
our mountain districts. In England, not further south 
than Derbyshire ; but it has been gathered in Northum- 
