42 
THE BOOK OF 
The Black Maiden-hair Spleenwort (A. adiantum 
nigrum). 
This species is quite distinct from any other; long, black 
stems and twice-divided triangular, somewhat leathery fronds; 
habitats, old walls and dykes, and also hedge-banks, assuming 
its largest size in shady lanes; soil more leafy than with the 
other species. 
Name. 
acu'.u.u .. 
grandiceps 
microdon 
Where Found 
Finder or Raiser and 
cr Raised. 
Date. 
Various 
Various . . 
Ilfracombe 
It, A. Thompson (1865) 
Waterford 
Rev. T. Smi.h (1805) 
Ashburton 
Bickford 
Richards 
Descripticn. 
Normally A. a. nigrum 
varies much in relative 
bluntness or acuteness of 
terminals ; the warmer 
the climate, apparently 
the more acute and 
slender the divisions. 
Good forms of acutum are 
very handsome. 
Two very similar forms with 
heavy, spreading, fan-like 
crests on frond ; terminal 
pinna; few and flabellate. 
The Devonshire form has 
the pinna; more in 
evidence. 
Large, confluent pinna: ; a 
presumed hybrid between 
this species and A. mari- 
num, but also open to 
doubt, Ashburton lying 
inland far from A. mari- 
num influence. 
The Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum). 
A tenant of sea caves and rocks adjacent, thriving in spots 
which must often be drenched with brine. The once-divided 
fronds are tough, leathery, and evergreen (page 43), but the 
Fern is nevertheless tender, and will stand but little frost. On 
the other hand, it thrives under warm culture, and we have 
seen it in a vinery at Kew with grand 2 feet fronds, forming 
a huge plant 1 yard through and 2 feet high. Hence, despite 
its native origin, it will well repay exotic treatment. There 
are several varieties, but for ornamental purposes we can only 
recommend : — 
Name. 
Where Found 
Finder or Ra 
or Raised. 
Date. 
A. in. imbricatum 
Lowe . . 
— 
A. m. plumosuui 
— 
— 
A. m. ramo-tra- 
peziforme 
Scarborough .. 
Clapham 
Description. 
A distinct, dense form. 
A thoroughbred plumose, 
twice-divided, and robust 
form, barren and rare. 
A ramo-cristate form. 
The Scaly Spleenwort (Ceterach officinarum 
asp. Ceterach). 
A lover of the sunny side of ancient walls, where it revels on 
old mortar puie and simple. It is a pretty little Fern, with 
dark olive-green, leathery, once-divided fronds of a long, oval 
