ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES. ENGLISH MAIDEN-IIAIR, 1 63 



fourth chapter of the first of his " Ten Books on Architecture," 

 when discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the sites 

 to be selected for cities, says that the physicians of liis time 

 cured diseases of the spleen by means of Asplenium, because it 

 was found that the sheep on one side of the river Pothereus, 

 in the island of Crete, where this herb grows, had smaller spleens 

 than those on the other side, where it does not grow. This does 

 not, indeed, refer to our present species, but is in place, as 

 explaining the origin of the name Asplcnmm, which is derived 

 from the Greek a, privative, and splcn, the spleen. 



Although most of the " virtues " formerly attributed to Asple- 

 nium were, as we have seen, mere fancies, our present species Is, 

 nevertheless, not without some merit. Syrup of Capillaire is 

 very popular in some countries, and Is said to be of real service 

 in coughs and thoracic diseases. According to some English 

 writers this syrup Is made of our plant, although Dr. LIndley 

 says that " Capillaire is prepared from the Adia7ihcm Capilhis 

 Veneris^ a plant which is considered undoubtedly pectoral, and 

 slightly astringent, though its decoction, if strong, according to 

 Ainslie, Is a certain emetic." 



The English Maiden-Hair Is as nearly cosmopolitan as any 

 species may well be. It is usually found growing In the crev- 

 ices of damp, shady rocks; and according to Mr. J. H. Red- 

 field, one of the best authorities on American ferns, the possi- 

 bility of finding such a situation Is the only condition which 

 limits its distribution all over the world. Some Eno-lish au- 

 thorities. Indeed, speak of it as occasionally growing on damp 

 earth in shady places ; but as a rule, old damp walls, or cold, 

 shaded rocks are given as its place of abode by all the writers 

 who treat of it. It is so easily found that few authors think it 

 worth while to give any special locality for it. Prof. Wood is 

 entirely silent in regard to the matter ; Dr. Gray simply says 

 "common"; Darlington speaks of It as frequent "on shady 

 rocks and banks " ; and only Dr. Chapman, in his " Flora of 

 the Southern United States," limits it by " rocks along the 



