i
lated free margin, very frequently in a later stage become
confluent, and cover the whole of the under surface.
A very rare and very curious variety of this species has
the pinnæ deeply pinnatifid, with linear notched segments ;
this is sometimes distinguished by the name of incisum.
The ordinary form of the species occurs rather plentifully
growing on rocks, old walls, and ruins, and less frequently
on hedge-row banks. It is pretty generally distributed
throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland; and also
occurs throughout Europe, and in each of the other divisions
of the globe.
This is one of the species of Ferns which has enjoyed a
medicinal reputation, a tea and a syrup prepared from it
being a country remedy for coughs and colds.
When once established this plant grows readily either in
pots or on rock-work ; 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 Eerns, 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 rock-work.
Asplenium melanocaulon is another name which has been
given to the common Spleenwort.
A s p l e n ium v ir id e , Hudson. — The Green Spleenwort.
(Plate K i l l . fig. 4.)
This Eern has such a general resemblance to A. Trichomanes
as to have been mistaken for it by casual observers.
I t is, however, quite distinct, and is most readily known
from A. Trichomanes by the colour of its racliis, which is
green in the upper part, while in the latter it is black
throughout. It is an evergreen tufted species, producing
narrow, linear, simply pinnate, bright pale green fronds,
ranging from two to eight or ten inches in length, supported
by a short stipes, which is dark-coloured at the very base,
but otherwise green, the rachis being entirely green. The
pinnæ are small, generally roundish-ovate, rather tapered
towards the base, and attached to the rachis by the narrowæd
stalk-like part, the margin being deeply crenated.
The venation is distinct : the midvein sends off alternately
a series of venules, which are either simple or forked, bearing
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