268 
ASPLENIACE^. 
In our own country I would cite Sir W. Hooker, who says, 
‘‘ Involucre entire,”* and Mr. Francis, who still more explicitly 
observes, “ Indusium entire on the margin.”f 
The roots are black and wiry ; the rhizoma rather elongate ; 
the stem dark at the base, but green above ; the frond very nar- 
row, linear and pinnate ; the pinnae regularly alternate, distant, 
ascending, somewhat pear-shaped, notched at the apex, and 
sometimes also at the side ; the united apical portion of the 
frond is generally larger and also more pointed than either of 
the pinnae ; the pinnae, as in the last species, are without a mid- 
vein ; they have two, three, or four sub-parallel, longitudinal 
veins, and on each of them is usually situated aline of capsules, 
which, as far as I have observed, is covered by a linear, some- 
what inflated and persistent involucre, which is slightly arched 
over the capsules, opens towards the median line of the pinna, 
and has a sinuous but not jagged free margin. 
The opinion of Linneus appears to have been in favour of 
combining the two forms : in order to exemplify this I shall 
quote an observation of M. Jacquin’s, which stands in his ‘ Mis- 
cellanea Austriaca,’ appended to Wulfen’s paper already cited, 
and which is entitled ‘ Plantaa rariores Carinthiacae.’ Alluding 
to A. germanicum^ there described as A. alternifolium^ he writes 
thus. — Plantulam hanc jam olim crescentem inveni in Austria, 
circa Glocknitz, in rupibus calcareis, etiam mixtim cum Acros- 
ticho septentrionali. Cum beatus Linneus, quocum communi- 
caverim, mordicus susiineret meram esse Rut<B murari<B varie- 
taterriy non ausus fui pro nova specie proponere, et omiseram in 
stirpium agri Viennensis enumeratione.”! From this passage it 
will, I think, appear, that if previously in error, I have at least 
the satisfaction of having erred in excellent company. I must 
not, however, be understood as considering Linneus unexcep- 
tionable authority on such a subject, since subsequent observa- 
tions have, in several instances, clearly proved that some of his 
species were far too comprehensive. 
This little fern appears to do well in cultivation ; the roots 
are probably obtained from Germany or the South of France. 
* Brit. Flor. 442. f Analysis, 45. :}; Jacq. Misc. 1. c. 
