THE FORKED SPLEENWORT. "ow 
Fronds from two to six inches high, numerous, deep green, coria- 
ceous; sometimes simple, and then either entire, or with a few 
distant marginal subulate teeth appearing as if split away from the 
main portion, or divided into two or three narrow-linear alternate 
ascending lobes; sometimes forked, with the two divisions either 
simple, toothed, or lobed on the same plan as the simple fronds. 
The simple fronds are narrow, linear, tapering towards both ends; 
the forked ones are indefinite in form, and apparently one-sided, one 
of the divisions being smaller than the other, and looking like a 
lateral branch without a balaneing branch from the opposite side of 
the rachis. The lobes are sometimes so much separated as to look 
like distinct pinne. 
Venation consisting of two or three series of furcate divisions of ` 
the vein which enters from the base, one of the venules extending 
to each of the teeth, there being no costa or midvein. 
Fructification on the back of the frond. Sori linear, elongate, 
on the inner side of two or three of the few venules, and opening 
towards the centre: towards the apices they are often opposite and 
contiguous almost as in Scolopendrium, in consequence of the narrow- 
ness of the parts; and being crowded with numerous spore-cases, they 
sometimes become confluent, and when old appear to be universal 
as in Acrostichum; but these are mere similarities. Indusiwm 
linear, entire. Spore-cases roundish-obovate, dark-brown. Spores 
roundish-oblong, slightly muriculate. 
Duration. The caudex is perennial. The fronds are persistent ; 
the plant is, therefore, an evergreen. 
This species may be distinguished at first sight by its tufted grassy 
aspect. From its ally Asplenium germanicum, which some botanists 
would consider a variety of it, the Forked Spleenwort may be known 
by its fronds being either simple with mere lobes, or forked with 
two distinct branches, each like its own smaller fronds, and never 
being regularly pinnate as is Asplenium germanicum. It is also 
narrower in its parts, with the texture thicker, and less leafy. 
A rare species, but widely distributed, being found in Somerset 
and Devon, in North Wales, in the Lake District, in Yorkshire 
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