FORKED SPLEENWORT, 
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FORKED SPLEENWORT, {natural size). 
Asplenium septentrionale, Hoffmann. 
This is one of the rarest of our British ferns : it occurs only 
in the fissures of rocks, and the interstices of stone walls : in 
the latter it appears to thrive more luxuriantly, probably from 
the frequently exposed situation and elevation of the former. 
I think I have seen specimens from nearly all the recorded sta- 
tions, and none of them are equal in luxuriance to those which 
I found by the farm-yard at Llanrwst, which, being on the 
Conway and not far from its mouth, is but slightly elevated 
above the level of the sea. At Llanrwst the tufts of this fern 
were very large : one of them was so heavy, that after shaking 
out all the loose earth, I found it a very inconvenient load to 
carry even the single mile which I had to convey it : this tuft, 
consisting I suppose of but one rhizoma, had upwards of 
three hundred perfectly vigorous fronds, besides at least an 
equal number of decaying ones, the relics of the previous year. 
Gerarde, who calls it Muscus corniculatus, says, “ there is found 
vpon the tops of our most barren mountaines, but especially 
where sea Coles are accustomed to be digged, stone to make 
iron of, and also where ore is gotten for tinne and lead, a 
certaine small plant : it riseth forth of the ground with many 
bare and naked branches, diuiding themselues at the top 
into sundry knags like the forked homes of a Deere, every 
