418 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
so much divided as the widest branches of 
the fronds of Adiantum-nigrum, which are, as 
already stated, the lowest branches in the frond. 
Another mark of recognition in Lanceolatum is 
the peculiar arrangement of the cases containing 
the ripened spores. In Adiantum-nigrum these 
are at first arranged in lines at the backs of the 
fronds; then they become confluent, and often 
densely crowd the entire under surface of the 
leaflets. In Lanceolatum they are ordinarily ar¬ 
ranged in little round bulged clusters, which are 
distinct from each other. 
The Black Maidenhair Spleenwort is widely 
distributed throughout the United Kingdom. 
But Lanceolatum is much rarer, and is confined 
in its range to the south and west of England, to 
South Wales, to the south of Ireland, and to the 
Channel Islands. In the Channel Islands it grows 
very luxuriantly. It varies in size, from tiny 
plants of some six inches in length to luxuriant 
specimens of a foot and eighteen inches long. 
Another peculiarity of Lanceolatum is that it pre¬ 
fers the sea-coast, and is often found on rocks in 
company with the Sea Spleenwort. In the same 
