150 IX. ASPLENIUM. 
term applied to some species of fern anciently employed 
as a supposed remedy in diseases of the spleen. 
1. Asplenlum fontanum, Bernhardi. Smooth 
Rock Spleenwort. Fronds linear-lanceolate, rigid, bipin- 
nate, glabrous ; pinnae oblong-ovate ; pinnules small ob- 
ovate-cuneate with a few large angular mucronate teeth; 
rachis winged throughout ; sori short oblong. 
ASPLENIUM FONTANCM, Bernhardi : Sm. Eng. Fl. iv. 299: Hook, 
and Arn. Fl. 574 : Florigr. Brit iv. 62: Franc. 48. ASPLENIUM 
JlAi.i.Kiu, Brown. ATHTBIUM FONTANUM, Koehl: 1'resl: Bab. Man. 
413. ATHTRIUM HALLERI. Roth. ASPIDIUM FONTANUM, Swartz: 
Willclenow : Eng. Bot. t. 2024. ASPIDIUM 1 1 AI.I.KUI. WillcK-now. 
POLTPODIBM FONTANUM, I.ililUl'US. PoLlPODIUM FEDICULAKI- 
FO UUM, Hoffman. 
The Smooth Rock Spleenwort is an elegant little ever- 
green plant, with a short, thick, scaly tufted caudex, and 
wiry fibrous roots. The fronds, which are terminal and 
adherent to the caudex, are from three to six or eight 
inches high, erect, narrow lanceolate in outline, firm or 
rigid in texture, deep green and glabrous. The stipes is 
very short, with a few narrow pointed scales quite at the 
base ; and the principal as well as the partial rachis has 
a uniform narrow winged margin. The fronds are bipin- 
nate. The pinnae are oblong ovate, short and more dis- 
tant towards the base of the fronds, and short but more 
crowded near the apex. The pinnules are obovate, taper- 
ing to the base, with from two to four or five rarely 
more deep notches, and as many sharp angular spinous 
teeth. The venation is rather indistinct, except when 
the fronds are young, owing to their rigid texture. The 
principal vein of each pinnule produces as many lateral 
veins as there are lobes or serratures, one being directed 
towards each marginal tooth. The sori, which are borne 
two or three on a pinnule, on some of the lower of the la- 
teral veins or venules near their junction with the mid- 
vein, are short, oblong, sometimes distinct, but often be- 
