3G 
FERNS. 
[Aspleniuni, 
ASPLENIUM. Linn. SPLEENWORT. 
(a<77rX>jvov, a medicine to cure disorders of the Spleen, from a and cr*x> jv.) 
PLATE OF GENERA, FIG. VI. 
Sori linear at first, afterwards round and crowded ; cover linear, attached 
to a transverse vein, and opening on the opposite part of the Sorus, towards the 
central nerve of the pinna. This is a well marked and extensive genus, of which 
Sprengel enumerates no less than 151 species, of these 10 only are British, which 
are not at all altered by culture, they are therefore less liable to run into varieties 
than some other genera. It is only when the sori are in a young state that many 
species can be known to belong to this genus, as the indusiums are so delicate as 
soon to be lost among the very confluent sori which at last appear like round spots. 
1.— ASPLENIUM SEPTENTRIONALE. 
FORKED SPLEENWORT. 
(Plate 3, fig. 1.) 
Cha. I rond simply partite. Segments linear, sharply toothed 
at their extremity. 
Syn.— A splenium Scptentrionale, Swz., Willd., Hull, Hoffm., Hook., Smith, 
Gulp., Gray.— Acrostichum Scptentrionale, Linn., Bolt., Dicks., Ehrh., 
With., Huds., Lightf. — Scolopendrium septentrionale, Roth. 
Fig. — E. B. 1017. — Flo. Dan. 60. — Bolt. 8. — Flo. Lon. 162. — Ger. 1561. 
Ees. Fionds very numerous, upright when young, drooping 
afterwards, rigid, one to three inches high, cleft near the top into 
two or three linear sharp pointed alternate segments, which in pro- 
portion to their size are furnished at or near their extremity with 
from one to three acute but not spinous teeth. Sori one on each 
side of the segment nearly longitudinal, concealed at first by a 
white indusium attached at the outer edge, afterwards the swelling 
sori throw back the indusia, covering the whole of the segment, 
and finally curving and contorting it in a curious manner. 
Mr. Watson writes thus : “ Although quite a northern fern, I observed the 
young fronds destroyed by a frost of 25 degrees Falir. in April, 1835. The 
plant had been under a glass in a cold frame during winter, where the tem- 
perature had risen a few degrees higher than outside by day, and never been 
allowed to sink to the freezing point at night, by a thick covering of mats.” 
Sit.— On the rocky clefts of mountains, chiefly in the north. Not in Ireland. 
Hab. Eng. : In situations probably exceeding 1000 feet in height in Cum- 
berland, where it occurs sparingly on rocks, between the vale of Ncwlands 
and Borrodale. Ingleborough, Mr.ILC. H'uta.-WAi.. : Craig Ddw (a 
mde above Llanberris Church) Caern. Mr. C. C. Babington. Snowdon (rare) 
B™™an. Llyn-y-cwm, N. Wales, Mr. W. Wilson.— Sco. : Arthur’s 
Seat, Edinburgh (above the rail road), Minto Craigs, Jcdburg, and in the 
Orkney Islands, Mr. H. C. Watson. Blackford Ilill, Edin., Mr. W. Brand. 
Geo.— Holland, Switzerland. Not unfrequent throughout Europe. 
