FILICES. 625 



expectorant, diuretic^ erumenagogue, and alexipharmic- Used 

 as a plaster it is considered to be discutient, and is applied to 

 chi'onic tumours of various kinds. The author of the Burhan 

 states that the ashes of the plant mixed with olive oil and 

 vinegar are used to make the hair grow upon the bald patches 

 produced by ringworm of the scalp. Theophrastus {II. P., vii., 

 13) mentions two kinds of Adiantum, "white" and "black/* 

 used in making hair oil. Greek synonyms for the plant were 

 poUfrichon^ calitriehon^ trkhomanes, and ebinotrichon. 



lu France a syrup of Maiden -hair is much used as a pectoral ; 

 the officinal plant is A. j^edatum, Linn., or Capillaire du Canada, 



a substitute. 



i/onm, Linn., Capillaire du Mexique, is allowed 



Description. — Fronds 3 to 4 times pinnate. RacLis 

 slender, polished, naked ; segments rigid, prominently veined 

 and tootted, upper edge rounded, lower cuneate into tte 

 petiole ; son one to three, large, roundish, placed in a distinct 

 uollow on the upper edge. 



Commerce. —The Maiden-hair of commerce consists solely of 

 ^ mimlnm, imported from Persia in large bales which contain 

 a number of small bundles, five or six of which weigh one 

 pound. Value, 3 annas per lb. Other species of AdiaiUnm 

 aie used locally to a small extent. 



ASPLENIUM PARASITICUM, wm. 



Fig. —Rheede, Hort. Mai xiL, «. 1 7. 



J"e;vMc«;«r.— Kari-bai-p^nna-maravara {Man, Maha-pana 



{Mar.), K^li-pj^ndan {Goa). 



ASPLENIUM FALCATUM, WUld. 



Fig — Rheede, HorL Mai. m., *■ 1^' 



Hab.— -India. The rhizomes. 

 F-.mac«^ar.-Nela-pauna-maravara {^al), Puna {Mar.\ 



79 



