The Ufeful Family Herbal, 141 
Mate Fern. 
_ FILIX MAS. = 
A Common Weed growing at the Roots of Trees, 
and in dry Ditches. It has no Stalk for 
bearing of Flowers, but feveral Leayes -rife to- 
gether from the Root, and each of thefe is in 
itfelf a diftinét Plant. It is two Feet high, and 
near a Foot in Breadth; the Stalk is naked for | 
fix or eight Inches, and thence is fet on each Side 
with a Row of Ribs or fmaller Stalks. Every 
one of which carries a double Row of fmaller 
Leaves, with an odd one at the End; the whole 
together making up one great Leaf, as in many 
of the umbelliferous Plants. 
On the Backs of thefe fmaller Leaves, ftand 
the Seeds in round Clufters, they look brown and 
dufty. The Root is long and thick, and the whole 
Plant has a difagreeable Smell. The Root is 
greatly recommended for curing the Rickets in — | 
Children. With what Succefs it would be hard 
to fay. 
FEMALE FERN. wee 
FELIX F@MINA 
A Tall and fpreading Plant, common on our “ 
‘Heaths, and called by the Country People. 
Brakes. It grows four Feet high. The Stalks are. 
round, green and fmooth ; the Leaves are fet on 
each fide, and are fubdivided. The whole may. 
‘indeed be properly called only one Leaf as in the 
Male Fern; but it has more the Appearance of 
a Number becaufe it is fo ramofe. The fimall 
Leaves or Pinnules which go to make _ eC, 
large one, are oblong, firm, hard, and o 
_ green Colour, and they are fo fpread 
* 
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