WATER PLANTS AND FERNS AND 



Water 

 Marsh 

 Mead. 

 Str, Wd. 



Most States 

 W. Can. 



THEIR ALLIES 



W-l. BRACKEN FERN, 

 Pteridiumaquilinum ;Fern 

 Fam. 1' -4' high. Distinc- 

 tive, dark, cord4ike, root- 

 stocks; lower pinnules of 

 leaf toothed,upper smooth., 



The root is viscid, bit- 

 terish and, like most of 

 the fern tribe, has a salty 

 and mucilaginous taste. 

 When burned, the ashes 

 yield more salt than other 

 vegetables. Also good as 

 fertilizer for potatoes if 

 worked into the ground. 



The astringency is so great that it is used abroad in preparing 

 chamois leather. In Siberia and other northern countries, the in- 

 habitants brew the roots in their ale, mixing one-third of roots with 

 two-thirds of malt. Ancients used the roots and whole plant in de- 

 coctions and diet drinks for the spleen and other disorders. Japa- 

 nese use it in soup. Indians boiled and ate the root stocks, as they 

 are starchy; also used them as a diuretic and worm medicine. In 

 early days the tops were used in the spring, while still curled, as 

 asparagus. Pioneers would soak them in water with wood ashes for 

 24 hours, then cook the young leaves like pot herbs. The fern was 

 also used in a decoction as a cure for rickets in children. 



Oak 



str. Wd. 

 CCF 

 MCF 



Most States 

 W. Can. 



W-2. HORSE TAIL or SCOURING RUSH, Equi - 

 setum arvense ;Horsetail Fam. Eaten by Romans 

 in 17th century, the young heads were boiled like 

 asparagus, or mixed with flour and fried. Indians 

 and early settlers used the stems as a stimulat- 

 ing diuretic in kidney and dropsical disorders. 



The outer layer of the stems contains a quan- 

 tity of silica useful in polishing hardwood, ivory 

 and brass; also used by Mexicans and Indians for scouring pots. 

 Aconitic acid in plant is poisonous to horses but not to cows or 

 goats. Bears and muskrats eat it and rootstocks eaten by geese. 



2-4' 



EK 



