ASPLE'NIUM, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order of Ferns. [PoLyPorneen.E.] It has elongated straight soli, with an indusium opening towards the central nerve or midrib. The species of this genus are known by the name of Spleenworts. Several of them are common in Great Britain.
A. lanceolatum, of Hudson, has lanceolate doubly pinnate fronds; the pinnules ovate and deeply and sharply toothed, or lobed ; the son short, nearly marginal. It is a native of England and Wales, on rocks and walls, but its distribution is very local. It is also a native of France, but its European habitats are few.
A. Acliantum-nigrum, Black Spleenwort, has triangular attenuated fronds, twice or thrice pinnate, the pint= and pinnules triangular, sharply toothed ; sori elongated, central. This plant is a native of Europe, and is abundantly distributed throughout the United Kingdom, where it occurs on rocks, walls, ruins, and hedge-rows. This is one of the ferns formerly much used in medicine, and is stated by Ray to be efficacious in cough, asthma, pleuritis, jaundice, stone, gravel, and other diseases. It has not however any reputation amongst modern practitioners of medicine.
A. Iluta-muraria, Wall-Rue, has bipinnate fronds, the pinnules rhomboid wedge-shaped, notched or toothed at the end ; the indusiuna jagged. This fern is very common on rocks and old walls in Great Britain and throughout Europe, and is also a native of North America. It was at one time used as a remedy in coughs and
astlimas, obstructions of the liver, and in cutaneous diseases ; but has now fallen into disuse.
A. Triehomanes, Common Spleenwort, has pinnate linear fronds ; roundish ovate, crenate, stalked pint= ; the nerves forked below the Bori. It is very common throughout Great Britain on rocks, walls, churches, ruins, bridges, and hedgerows. It is a native also of Europe, Africa, and the United States. This fern has been also used in medicine, and for the same diseases as the previous species, but it has fallen now entirely into disuse.
The other British species of ylrplenium are A. alternifoliuzn, A. septentrionale, A. marinum, A. riride.
These and other ferns may be easily cultivated by placing them in situations resembling their natural habitats. They require a pure atmosphere, plenty of space, and natural shade, with a due supply of water. They may be planted on decayed wood, in holes of rocks and brick, with almost any soil. One of the most elegant modes of culti vating them is by means of inverted jars, under which they will thrive in any sandy or light soil.
(Babington, ; Newman, History of British Ferns; Ward, Growth of Plants in Glazed Cases.)