HEATH’S FERN PORTFOLIO. 
CRESTED BUCKLER FERN— Lasfrea cristata. Fig. i. 
COMMON MAIDENHAIR FyFEEEN^OFSF—Asplenmin trichomanes. 
pigs. 2 and 3. 
GREEN SPLEEN WORT— viride. Figs. 4 and 5. 
ALTERNATE SFEEEN^OFA—Asplenhmigerinaniami» Figs. 6 and 7. 
FORKED SPLEEN WO septentrionale. Figs. 8 and 9. 
fronds of THE CRESTED BUCKLER FERN — Lastrea cristata — grow from one 
I to three feet in length. They are irregularly oblong, widest about the middle, the pinnce 
alternate, triangular, but rounded at the base, and cleft into short, oblong, serrated 
pinnules, along each under-side of which the sori are produced. Habitats. — Bogs and marshy 
parts of woods. Distribution. — Belgium, Boeotia, Canada, Croatia, England, France, Germany, 
Holland, Hungary, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Switzerland, Transylvania, and United States. 
The frond figured was courteously supplied by Professor Dyer, of Kew Gardens. 
OF the pretty little series of Spleenworts, now to be described, the first to mention is THE 
COMMON MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT — Asplenmni trichomanes — which from its tufted 
rootstock sends up an abundance of evergreen fronds. Stipes and rachis are purple throughout, 
and in pairs, or alternate ; on the latter are produced the small, nearly oval, and usually entire 
pinnce, which diminish in size both towards the apex and the base of the frond. The oblong 
sori on the undersides densely cover the latter, and as they ripen become confluent. Habitats. — 
Moist crevices of rocks, walls, bridge arches, and hedge-banks. Distribution. — Afghanistan, 
Algeria, Altai Mountains, Australia, Azores, Belgium, British Islands, Canada, Cape de Verd 
Islands, Caucasus, Columbia, Corsica, Crimea, Croatia, Cuba, Dalmatia, France, Germany, Greece, 
Himalayas, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Kaffraria, Kashmir, Madeira, Mexico, New Mexico, 
Paramatta, Persia, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Sandwich Islands, Scandinavia, Siberia, Sicily, Simla, 
Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Transylvania, Turkey, United States, Ural Mountains, and 
Venezuela. 
THE GREEN SPLEENWORT — Asplenium viride — whose fronds are from two to ten 
inches long, is distinguishable from Asplenmm trichomanes chiefly by having a green instead of a 
purple rachis. Its pinnce-^ too, are usually rounder. They are produced in pairs or alternately, and 
underneath them the sori are scattered much less abundantly than on the Common Maidenhair 
Spleen wort. Habitats. — Fissures of rocks, in moorland districts where water trickles over the 
stony surfaces. Distribution. — Belgium, Bohemia, British Islands, Columbia, Croatia, Dalmatia, 
Finland, P" ranee, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Lapland, Norway, Peru, Rocky Mountains, Russia, 
Siberia, Sitka, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. 
THE distinct alternation on the rachis ol its prettily-cleft, club-shaped, leathery, evergreen 
pinncE is the obvious reason for the name given to THE ALTERNATE SPLEENWORT 
Asplenium germanicum — whose little fronds grow from two to six inches lono-. As 
in all the Spleenworts already described, the oblong sori are produced in oblique lines, 
and often become confluent as they ripen. Habitats.— Moist, rocky clefts in mountainous districts. 
Distribution. — Belgium, Britain, Carpathians, Croatia, Dalmatia, Finland, France, Germany, 
Hungary, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Tyrol. 
EVEN simpler in form and division than the "pi'eceding, the fronds of THE FORKED 
SPLEENWORT — Asplenium septentrionale — consist of little grass-like tufts, each frond havino- a‘ 
long stipes surmounted by a leafy part, forked into three-cleft, club-shaped divisions. U nderneath, the 
crowded sori are covered at first by the scale-like indusium attached at each margin, and later on, 
when ripe, burst their covering and become confluent. Habitats.— Moist, earthy seams of rocks 
and walls. Distribution. — Belgium, Britain, Denmark, P'rance, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, 
Lapland, New Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. For 
fronds of the two ferns just mentioned the Author is indebted to Mr. F. W. Stansfleld, of Sale. 
