FiLICALES.] 



POLYPODIACE^. 



79 



in nearly 46" south latitude, yet they have in no case beeu found beyond the northern 

 tropic. * For an excellent account of the geographical distribution of Tree Ferns, see 

 Martins Icones Plantarum Cryptogajnicarum, p. 81. 



The leaves generally contain a thick astringent mucilage, with a little aroma, on 

 which account many are considered pectoral and lenitive, especially Adiantum pedatura 

 and Capillus Veneris ; but almost any others may be substituted for them. Capillaire 

 is so called from being prepared from the Adiantum Capillus Veneris, a plant which is 

 considered to be undoubtedly pectoral and slightly astringent ; though its decoction, if 

 strong, is, according to AinsUe, a certain emetic. The Peru\dan Polypodium Calaguala, 

 Acrostichum Huacsaro, and Polypodium crassifolium, are said to be possessed of 

 important medicinal properties, especially the former; their effects are reported to be 

 solvent, deobsti-uent, sudorific, and antu-heumatic ; antivenereal and febrifugal virtues 

 are also ascribed to them. The leaves of Adiantum melanocaulon are believed to be 

 tonic in India. (Aiiulie, 2.21.5.) The tubes of the pipes of the Brazihan negroes are 

 manufactured from the stalk of INIertensia dichotoma, which they call Samanbaya. 

 The stem of many species is both bitter and astringent ; whence that of several, espe- 

 cially Aspidium Filix INIas, and Pteris aquilina, has beeu employed as an anthelimntic ; 

 and Nothochlsena piloselloides has been used m India to subdue sponginess in the gums. 

 They have also been given as emmenagogues and purgatives. Osmunda regalis has 

 been employed successfully, in doses of 3 drachms, m the rickets. The rhizomes of 

 Nephrodium escvilentum are eaten in Nipal, according to Buchanan. Diplazium escu- 

 lentum, Cyathea meduUaris, Pteris esculenta, and Gleichenia Hermanni, are also occa- 

 sionally employed for food in different countries. Speaking of Pteris esculenta, the 

 Tasmamiian fern-root, Mr. Backhouse says, " Pigs feed upon this root where it has been 

 tiu'ued up by the plough ; and in sandy "soils, they will themselves tm-n up the earth in 

 search of it. The Aborigines roast it in the ashes, peel off its black skin with 

 their teeth, and eat it with their roasted kangaroos, &c. in the same mamier as Euro- 

 peans eat bread. The root of the Tara-fern possesses much nutritive matter ; yet it is 

 to be observed, that persons who have been reduced to the use of it, in long excursions 

 through the bush, have become very weak, though it has prolonged life," Pteris 

 aquilina and Aspidium Fihx Mas have been used in the manufacture of beer, and 

 Aspidium fragrans as a substitute for tea. Ar/cUi. The fragrance which gives its name 

 to the latter species occurs occasionally elsewhere. Polypodium ph^'matodes is em- 

 ployed, along with Angiopteris evecta, m preparing the cocoa-nut oil of the South Sea 

 islands ; Aneimia tomeutosa smells of mjTi-h, and Mohria thurifera of benzoin. 



GENERA, 



I. — Polypodece. Endl 

 Gen. xxvi. Spore-cases 

 stalked, with a vertical 

 ring ; spores roundish 

 or oblong. 



Acrostichum, L. 

 Polybotrj-a, H. B. 



Egenolphia, Schott. 

 Olfersia, Radd. 



Elaphoglossum,fichott. 



RJiipidopteris, Schott. 

 Stenochlaena, J. Sm. 

 Lomagi-amma, J Sm. 

 Aconiopteris, PresL 

 Stenosemia, Prcsl. 

 Campium, Presl. 



, Platycerium, Desv. 



Alcicornium, Gaudich, 

 Cyrtogonium, J. Sm. 

 Photinopteris, J. Sm. 

 Poecilopteris, Eschw. 



Bolbitis, Schott. 

 Gymnopteris, Presl. 



Hymenolepis, Kaulf. 



Leptochilus, Kaulf. 



Anapausia, Presl. 

 Hemionitis, Livn. 

 Antrophyum, Kaulf. 

 Loxograrama, Blum. 

 Poly taenium , Desv. 

 Leptogramma, J. Sm. 

 Gymnogramma, Desv. 



iNeurogramma, Presl. 

 Calomelanos, Prcsl. 

 Ceterach, Adans. 

 Grammitis, Su-artz.^ 

 Xiphopteris, Kaulf. 



Micropteris, Desv. 

 Chilopteris, Presl. 



Synammia, Presl. 

 Cryptogramma, R. Br. 

 Diblemma, J. Sm. 

 Selliguea, Bory. 



Diagra m ma, Blum . 

 Micro'gramma, Presl. 

 Stegnogramma, Blum. 

 Sphasrostephanos, J. Sm. 

 Meniscium, Schreb. 

 Tsenitis, Swartz. 

 Pleurogramma, Presl. 

 Tseniopsis, J. Sm. 

 Pteropsis, Presl. 



ChUogramme, Blum. 

 Monogramma, Commers. 



Cochlidium, Kaulf. 

 Adenophorus, Gaudich. 



Amphoradenium ,Dcsv. 

 Nothochlaena, R. Br. 



Cincinalis, Desv. 

 Drymoglossum, Presl. 

 Polypodium, Linn. 



Ctenopteris, Blum. 



Dicranopteris, Blum. 



Phegopteris, Presl. 



Las'trcea, Bory. 

 Goniopteris, Presl. 



I Pleocnemia, Presl. 



Amblia, Presl. 

 ! Goniophlebium, Blum. 



Marginaria, Presl. 

 . Pleurogonium, Presl. 

 < Cj'rtophlebium, R. Br. 

 I Campyloneurum,'Presl. 



Phlebodium, R.Br. 



Dictyopteris, Presl. 

 jPhymatodes, Presl. 

 I Anaxetum, Schott. 

 Pleuridium, Presl. 



Dryostachyum, J. Sm. 



Drynaria, Presl. 

 I Dipteris, Reinw. 

 I Microsorus, Link. 



Aglaomorpha, Schott. 

 I Psyqmium, Presl. 

 'Pleopeltis, i?. etjB. 

 ? Paragramme, Bl. 



Xiphoboius, Kaulf. 

 I Candollea, Mirb. 

 Pyrrhosia, Mirb. 

 I Cyclophorus, Desv. 



Cyclophorus, Presl. 



Scj-topteris, Presl. 



Lecanopteris, Reiniv. 

 Onychium, Reinw. 



CaljTnodon, Presl. 



Cheilanthes, Swartz. 



Hypolepis. Presl. 



Ochropteris, J. Sm. 



Lonchitis, Linn. 



Adiantum, Linn. 



Fig. LVI.— Spore-cases of Hymenocystis caucasica. 



