46 
leaflets have frequently a little projection, or auricle on the 
upper side, and on the lower, it appears as if a piece had 
been cut off. The new fronds begin to arise about midsum- 
mer, and the corn harvest is past, and the winter approaches, 
before they attain to maturity. It is said of the fig, that 
it blossoms and bears fruit at the same time ; so at certain 
seasons, two years’ fronds are in full vigour, the younger 
only difiering in having a lighter colour, and merely a slight 
development of its fructification. It is from six inches to a 
foot long, of small size w'hen exposed to the sea blasts, but 
much finer and more thriving when in a cavern or sheltered 
situation. "We have gathered fronds between Saunders 
Toot and Tenby in South Wales, eighteen inches long. 
The Sea Spleenwort has a great tendency to creep and lie 
prostrate in an inclement situation ; hence it is designated 
by Bauhin, Gerarde, and Bay, “ Chamsefilix marina Anglica.” 
(The English Sea Eern creeping on the ground.) It is stated 
that “ The European range of this plant appears limited to 
the coasts of Spain and France, together with Great Britain. 
From the Flora Bossica, which embraces the greater part 
of Europe and Asia, and a large portion of North America, 
the 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 Bio Grande 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 rockwort, 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 rockwort, with sand or 
peat intermixed, 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. 
