HEATH’S FERN PORTFOLIO. 
ALPINE POLYPODY — Poly podium alpestre. Fig. i. 
LANCEOLATE SY'LKEWNOWY—Asplenmmla 7 iceolahim, Figs. 2and3. 
SCALY SPLEEN WORT — Asplenimn ceterach. Figs. 4 and 5. 
ROCK SPLEENWORT— fonta7t7im. Figs. 6 and 7. 
RUE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT — Asple 7 num mUa-7mc7^aria, 
Figs. 8 and 9. 
T he fronds of THE ALPINE POLYPODY — Polypodium alpestre — are much like 
those of the Lady Fern, and rise, from an erect rootstock, a foot to three feet 
and a half. They are broadly lance-shaped and have alternate, narrowly-triangular pinnce^ 
divided into alternate, ovate, indented pinnules. The son on the underside are not covered 
by indus 2 CL or shields. F or the frond from which the drawing of the accompanying figure 
was made, the Author is indebted to Mr. F. W. Stansfield, of Sale. Habitats.— High 
mountainous regions, chiefly amongst rocks, and in other moist positions. Distribution. — 
The Caucasus, Germany, Lapland, Norway, Russia,' Sweden, and Switzerland. 
OF the five Spleenworts now to be figured and briefly described THE LANCEOLATE 
SPLEENWORT — Aspleniimt lanceolatnm — takes its name from the form of its fronds. 
These are evergreen and lance-shaped, having opposite or alternate, bluntly-triangular pinnce, 
bearing alternate, somewhat four-sided, and more or less deeply cleft, pinnules. The round 
sori assume a regular and semi-triangular shape on the backs of the fronds, and are very 
abundant. Habitats.— Sea caves and other moist and rocky positions near the sea. Dis- 
tribution.— Algiers, Azores, Belgium, England, English Channel Islands, France, Germany, 
Italy, Madeira, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, and Tangiers. 
VERY beautiful is the dark green upperside and the brown scaly back of THE SCALY 
SPLEEN WORT— Aw ceterach. From one to eight inches is its length. The 
alternate, conical pinnco, present on each side of the 7'achis the appearance of blunt cogs ; the 
stipes is very short and scaly, and the spore cases, in elongated sofi, are concealed amongst 
the dense scaly covering of the undersides of the stout fronds. Habitats.— Moist crevices 
of rocks, walls, and bridge arches. Distribution.— Algiers, Armenia, Asia Minor, Austria, 
Azores, Balearic Isles, Belgium, Brazil, British Islands, Canaries, Cape de Verde Islands, Caucasus, 
Croatia, Dalmatia, Erzeroum, France, Germany, Gothland, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, 
Italy, Madeira, Portugal, Russia (South), Siberia, Spain, Switzerland, Thibet, Transylvania, 
Turkey, and Ural Mountains. 
ELEGANTLY lance-shaped in form, the evergreen fronds of THE ROCK SPLEEN- 
WORT— are found of lengths varying from two or three to twelve inches. 
The stipes is very short and the piniue are egg-shaped, sharply indented, and placed alternately 
and very symmetrically along the rachis. The sori are oblong ; they run obliquely from the mid- 
veins of the pinn<B, and they are scattered pretty evenly over the entire underside of the frond. 
Habitats.— Shady nooks in rocks, walls, and the sides of sea caves. Distribution.— B elgium, 
British Islands, Cashmere, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Siberia, Spain, and Switzerland. 
THE RUE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT — Asplenium ruta-imiraria — bears fronds growing 
from small tufted rootstocks and ranging from one to six inches in length. They are evergreen, and 
leathery-textured, and have the stipes mostly long, and the leafy part triangular. The piniue are 
placed In irregular alternation on each side of the rachis, and are divided into curious little club- 
shaped pinnules, generally In threes. Running in oblique lines upon the frond, the sori, as they 
become ripe, run into each other, and then densely cover the under-surface. Habitats.— Old walls 
rocks, bridge arches, and other stony places. Distribution.— Africa, America (North), Asia, 
Belgium, Bohemia, British Islands, Corsica, Crimea, Croatia, Dalmatia, France, Germany, Greece' 
Holland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, Sicily, Spain, Switzerland,' 
Transylvania, and Turkey. 
