ASPLENIUM. 
139 
This is one of the species of Ferns which has enjoyed a 
medicinal reputation, a tea and a syrup prepared from it 
being country remedies for coughs and colds. 
When once established, this plant grows readily either 
in pots or on rockwork : but its roots being wiry, and 
generally inserted into the crevices of the walls or rocks on 
which it grows, it is sometimes found to be difficult to 
transplant. In general the smaller and younger plants 
may be removed with greater success than the larger and 
older ones. The newly-transplanted roots should be kept 
rather close, if possible, for a short time ; but after they 
are established, shade is not so essential to this species as 
to most other Ferns, although it grows most vigorously 
under the influence of shade and shelter. In a Wardian 
case, for which its size is suitable, it should have the 
upper and drier parts of the rockwork. 
Asplenium melanocaulon is another name which has 
been given to the common Maidenhair Spleenwort. 
