On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2)Somerville, Mary
History
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2)
Somerville, Mary
Matter -- Constitution; Microscopy; Natural history
It is well known that the seeds of tropical plants have been brought to
the western coasts of Scotland and Ireland by the great Atlantic
currents; it might therefore be expected, that the spores of Cryptogams
brought to our shores by the same means, and finding a congenial
climate, should become naturalized, as appears to have been the case in
ancient times, with regard to the Ceterach and Asplenium marinum, from
their migrations, as traced by Mr. Johnson. ‘The countries bordering on
the basin of the Mediterranean and the islands and eastern shores of the
North Atlantic appear to have been the original stations of this
remarkable fern. In the British islands its distribution is too partial
to admit of its being regarded as strictly indigenous, though probably
naturalized here at a period little subsequent to the arrival of
Asplenium marinum. It occurs here on limestone-rocks, but more
frequently on old walls and ruins, rooted deeply in the decaying mortar,
and often accompanying Asplenium Ruta-muraria and Asplenium Trichomanes.
Like other natural importations from the south, it is found most
abundantly on the western maritime counties that receive the more direct
flow of the tide, and has progressed slowly towards the northern and
central parts of the kingdom. In Scotland it has not yet traversed
beyond Perth, and is still regarded as a rare species; while in Ireland
its copious distribution seems to indicate an earlier arrival.’
The group Vittarieæ, consisting mainly of Vittaria and Tæniopsis, is
essentially equatorial or sub-equatorial. The plants have narrow
ribbon-like fronds, with naked sori immersed in the very margin of the
frond, in a more or less sunken furrow, there being no indusium.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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