CHAPTER VI. 
THE SPLEENWORTS, 
I. THE FORKED SPLEEN WORT. 
A splenium sefitentrionale . 
' 'HE Spleenworts form a charming group, 
many of them being very small. But all 
are evergreen. They all delight to grow in rocky 
or stony crevices, sometimes on walls — disporting 
themselves in the sunshine, but always preferring 
shade and moisture for their fibrous roots. The 
little waving tufts of the smaller species conspicu- 
ously ornament the rocks or walls on which they 
grow, whilst the larger kinds wear their beautiful 
fronds with a nobler grace. 
The Forked Spleenwort is one of our rarest 
ferns. It grows to an average height of two 
or three inches only, seldom exceeding six. Frond 
