61 
From the Flora Eossica, which embraces the greater part 
of Europe and Asia, and a large portion of North America, 
tlie very name of this Fern is absent.” — Newman. It is 
likewise met with in Barbary, the Canary Islands, and the 
West Indies. Hooker also adds I possess specimens from 
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, in British North America, 
and from Eio Grrande do Sut, in South Brazil. 
Gray states that a mucilaginous extract of it is useful in 
severe burns and scalds. There would be some difficulty in 
procuring a sufficient number of fronds to try the experi- 
ment. 
This is no easy plant to cultivate, for it scarcely ever 
grows among rockwork unless it exhales the pure sea air. 
As it is found growing in some few places at a distance 
from the sea, and as some few cultivators have succeeded, 
it is recommended to plant it on rockwork with sand or 
peat intermixed and with a southern aspect screened both 
from frost and sun. Great care should be taken not to break 
the roots, when they are extracted from the rocks. It will 
certainly thrive in a hot house or under a glass. 
The localities of this Fern are — 
Axmouth ; Charlton Bay. 
Beer ; on the rocks under the cliffs. 
Plate II, fig. 14. 
“ When the Fern is as high as a spoon, 
Yon may sleep an hour at noon : 
Wlien the Fern is as high as a table. 
Yon may sleep as long as yon are able.” 
4. Wall Eue Spleenwort. Asplenium ruta muraria. 
This is a small plant an inch or two high. Newman ^ 
considers it as belonging to a distinct genus, Amesium, 
because the ultimate subdivisions are without a distinct 
mid-vein. This plant no doubt received its name from 
its resemblance to rue. It is to be found on almost every 
ruin and old wall, and “ like our half-domesticated birds, 
the sparrow, the swallow, and the martin, seems to have 
