He Ufeftd Fa7nily HerhaL 141 



Male Fern. 



FILIX MAS. 



A Common Weed growing at the Roots of Trees, 

 and in dry Ditches. It has no Staik for 

 bearing of Flowers, but feveral Leaves rife to- 

 gether from the Root, and each of thefe is in 

 itfclfadiftina: 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, Hand 

 the Seeds in round Cluflers, they look brov/n and 

 dufly. 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. 



FELIX f CEMINA. 



A Tall and fpreading Plant, common on our 

 Heaths, and calfed by the Country People 

 Brakes, It grows four Feet high. The Stalks are- 

 round, green and fmogth ; the Leaves are fet on 

 each fide, and are fubdivided. The whole^ may 

 indeed be properly caikd only one Leaf as in the 

 Male Fern; but it has more the Appearance of 

 a Number becaufe it is fo ramofe. The fmall 

 Leaves or Pinnules which go to rnake up the 

 large one, are oblong, firm, hard, and of a deep 



ereea Colour, and they arc fo fprcad that the 

 ^ whole 



