THE SPLEENWORTS. 
79 
in tlie leafy portion, and stalks long; hence it has a graceful, 
pendent habit of growth. It is usually found on sea cliffs or 
in sea caves, within the immediate influence of the sea air, and 
often of the sea water. Like its neighbour the Maidenhair 
{Adiardum Capillus-Veneris), it cannot stand much frost, and, 
indeed, under cultivation it is dangerous to expose it to any. 
On the other hand, it stands alone amongst our British Ferns 
in its capacity of thriving under absolutely tropical treatment, 
which causes it to grow most luxuriantly. It requires the 
treatment of rock Ferns — i.e., gritty, porous soil, and thorough 
drainage — and when well grown is one of the most satis- 
factory evergreen species. It has afforded several very marked 
varieties. 
A. m. capitatmn (headed) (7). A splendid form, bearing a 
heavy crest on a long stalk almost or quite bare of pinna©. 
Found in Yorkshire. 
A. m. imbricatum (imbricated). A congested form, with 
wide pinnae overlapping each other considerably. 
A. m. plumosum (feathery) (2). A very handsome, bold- 
growing form, twice divided, the pinnae being very wide and 
deeply cut, giving the frond a truly plumose character. 
A. m. ramosum (branched). The fronds branch several 
times, and sometimes crest, forming a neat, tufty plant. 
The Common Spleenwort 
(Asplenium Trichomanes). 
This very beautiful little Fern (Fig. 19) is of very general dis- 
tribution, and frequents old walls, stone dykes, chinks and 
crevices in rocks, and slopes of hedge banks. The fronds are 
generally small, but under very favourable circumstances some- 
times attain 9in. or lOin. in length. The stalks are quite black ; 
the pinnae roundish, and attached by a minute, jointed stalk; 
when old they become detached from the main stalk, which exists 
for a long time afterwards, and forms a distinguishing mark 
of the species. Soil must be gritty and open. If grown in 
pots, bear in mind it is a wall Fern, and plant it close to 
the edge, or between some pieces of porous stone. A good plan 
