52 
FERNS. 
[. Asplenium . 
ones ovate, the lower roundly triangular, attached to the stalk by 
the centre of one of the sides, which is somewhat truncate, the other 
two sides being regularly and deeply crenate, sometimes doubly so. 
Leaf-stalk quite green, except at the lower part. Sori reddish-brown, 
two to six on each pinna, confined to the middle of it, finally be- 
coming confluent, but even then not extending to the margin. 
This is immediately distinguished from the last by the lighter colour of all its 
parts, its less-spreading sori, and differently shaped and alternate pinnae ; added 
to which, the pinnae on the lower part of the leaf are generally distant, and 
those near the top of the leaf crowded, while the whole is much more delicate 
and elegant. Sometimes the frond is divided into two, as represented in Bolton, 
t. 2, f. 3, when it becomes the Trichomanes ramosumof authors ; but this branch- 
ing is an accidental circumstance, and by no means constant ; it therefore does 
not constitute a variety, more especially as not more than two or three branched 
leaves are found upon a plant, all the rest being of the common character and 
appearance. 
Sit. — Eng.: On rocks, not farther south than Yorkshire, or perhaps Derby- 
shire. On rocks in Northumberland, Mr. Winch. Mazebeck Scars, Westmorel., 
and Gordale, Yorkshire, Mr. R. Bowman. Near Halifax, Yorkshire, Mr. R. 
Ley lan da. Near Ais-la-Beek, and Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Settle, 
Mr. Chorley. — Wales: Cader Idris, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Snowdon, Mr. C. C. 
Babington. Twll Du, Caern., Mr. T. H. Cooper. Not uncommon on the Welsh 
mountains, Mr. W. Wilson. — Scot. : Ross-shire, Rev. G. Gordon. Cawdor 
Woods, Nairns, Mr. W. Staples. Base of Benmore, Sutherlandsh., Dr. Johnston. 
Far too common in the Highlands to need the specifying of stations, Mr. H. C. 
Watson. — Ire. : Turk Mountain, Killarney ; Ben Bulben, county of Sligo ; and 
on the Donegal Mountains, near Lough Eske, Mr. Mac/cay. 
Geo. — Germany, Holland, Switzerland, France ; very rare, except on the moun- 
tains of Tyrol and Carinthia. 
7.— ASPLENIUM FONTANUM. 
SMOOTH ROCK SPLEENWORT. 
(Plate V, fig. 1.) 
Cha. — Leaf linear-lanceolate, bipinnate. Pinnae oblong, blunt, 
alternate. Pinnules wedge-shaped, cleft into a few large teeth. 
Leaf-stalk winged. 
Syn. — Asplenium fontanum, Hook., Smith., Bernh . — Aspidium fontanum, 
Wild. Swz. (riot of Schkr .) — Polypodium fontanum, Linn., Huds., Bolt., 
With * — Athyrium fontanum, Gray, Bab. 
Fig. — E. B. 2024.— Lob. 1c. 810, 1 .—Bolt. 21 (bad).— Moore (1853), p. 151. 
Des. — Rootstock tufted, long, black. Leaf lanceolate, bipinnate, 
evergreen, 2 to 0 inches high. Leaf-stalk winged throughout. Pin nae 
alternate, ovate, oblong, those in the middle of the frond from a 
quarter to half an inch long, formed of six or eight pinnules placed 
alternately. Pinnules short, broadly wedge-shaped, petioled, so 
