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A S P L E N I U M marinum.
Sea Spleenwort.
5 ƒ .
C R Y P T O G AMI A Filices.
G en. Char. Fruâlif. in fcattered lines. Involucrum
originating laterally from a vein* and burftine inwardly.
Spec. Char. Frond pinnated. Leaflets ovate, obliq ue,
ferrated, obtufe ; unequal and wedge-fhaped at the
bale.
Syn. Afplenium marinum. Linn. Sp. PI. 15 4 0 . Hiidf.
FI. An. 453* With. Pot. Arr. v . 3 . 53. Dickf.
H. Sicc. fafc. 7. 17. Lightf Scot. 6 6 4 .
Chamaefilix marina Anglica. Ran Syn. x 19.
VJTATHERED by Mr. T. F. Forfter, jun. on the rocks at
Haftings, near the caftle, where it was obferved in the laft century,
as well as in fome other parts of the fouth and weft coaft.
Mr. Lightfoot found it in feveral places on the Scottifh coaft,
and rightly refers to this plant Sibbald’s wretched figures, Scotia
illufirata, tab. 3. ƒ 1 ,2 , which have been taken for the Adi-
antum trapeziforme of Linnseus, an American fern, that has no
right to a place in the Britifh Flora.
Afplenium marinum grows in tufts from clefts of rocks, having
a black fcaly root, which throws up feveral lanceolate fronds,
very various in degree of luxuriance, and confifting of many
firm dark-green leaflets, the lower ones oppofite, the reft alternate,
and thofe about the fummit confluent and decurrent.
The form of thefe leaflets is ovate, approaching to a lozenge,
the nerve dividing them unequally, as in many ferns; their
bafe is entire, and protracted into a wedge fhape; the reft of
their margin is ferrated, fometimes very unequally and deeply.
The fructification is arranged in Ample oblique lines, whofe
covering membrane burfts on the fide looking towards the main
nerve, which is proper to this genus. It may be found in perfection
all fummer long.