FILICALES. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 399. 



ACROSTICHUM. 



Thecae clustered, covering the lower side of the leaf, or both 

 sides. Indusium none. 



1312. A. Huacsaro Ruiz in Lamb, cinch. 128. Cold ele- 

 vated hills of Peru, in the provinces adjoining the Cordilleras. 



Rhizoma horizontal, creeping, branched, about 2 feet long, covered 

 over by the leafstalks which curve upwards and produce the appearance 

 of a kind of cord or braid. Sterile leaves more than 1J foot long, flat; 

 fertile ones narrower and almost twice as long, with the midrib cari- 

 nated on both sides ; stalk semicylindrical, ramentaceous. Sori inter- 

 mixed with hairs, ferruginous, or sometimes blackish, covering all the 

 back of the fertile leaves. This plant is called Huacsaro in Peru, and 

 Calaguala m diana or Cordoncillo by the Spanish settlers. The rhizoma 

 n cold infusion, and decoction, yields a red colour and a slight astrin- 

 igent taste. Very inferior in action to the true Calaguala (Polypodium 

 Calaguala). Ruiz. 



POLYPODIUM. 



Theca3 placed on the veins, collected in roundish sori, which 

 are scattered or arranged in rows. Indusium none. 



1313. P. Calaguala Ruiz in Lamb, cinch. 120. t. 2. Cold 

 parts of the Alps of Peru, in clefts and on the side of rocks. 



Rhizoma prostrate, creeping, flexuose, covered with spreading ra- 

 menta; after slow desiccation dark ash-colour, when the ramenta are 

 removed, and pale citron-colour with a compact texture in the inside. 

 Leaves placed in 2 rows alternately on the upper side of the rhizoma, 

 linear-lanceolate, stiff, quite smooth, from 6 inches to 1 foot long, revo- 

 lute at the margin, dotted with white on the upper side; stalk naked ; 

 veins reticulated. Sori round, unequal, in 1 or more rows on each side 

 of the midrib. Called Ccallahuala or Calaguala in Peru. The rhizoma 

 when dried has great deobstruent, sudorfic, antivenereal and febrifuge 

 virtues. It is used in decoction or infusion, allowing 1 ounce of the 

 rhizoma to 6 pints of water boiled down to 3 pints. Seldom to be had 

 genuine in Europe. If genuine it is extremely bitter. Ruiz. 



1314-. P. crassifolium Linn. sp. pi. 1543. Ruiz in Lamb, 

 cinch. 125. Phyllitis maculata amplissimo folio Petiv. Fil. 

 p. 6. f. 8. Mountains and woods of Peru, in gravelly and 

 rocky naked warm situations. 



Rhizoma compressed, thick, horizontal, brittle, green, covered with 

 deciduous membranous ramenta. Leaves in 2 rows, placed alternately 

 617 



