ADIANTUM CAPILLUS-VENERIS. 



but we can recall nothing in particular as we write. This is still 

 more to be wondered at when we remember that it is a plant not 

 only known over the whole world, but is referred to in some of 

 the oldest writings extant ; its present names indeed having 

 been handed down to us from antiquity, and their meanings, so 

 far as these may be applicable to our plant, in a measure lost. 

 During the middle ages its proper name was Capillus Veneris ; 

 and because of this having once been its proper name is the 

 reason why the capital letters are yet employed, though, under 

 the binomial system of Linnaeus, it is now but an adjective to 

 Adiantum. Capillus Veneris — literally, the hair of Venus, or 

 perhaps of any fair lady — would seem to be from the mass of 

 hair-like stipes, such as is referred to by Miss Reynolds above 

 quoted ; but as some erudite English authors — notably. Wither- 

 ing — observe, there are many others which may have equal 

 claim to such a distinction. The Greeks of the present day, in 

 whose country now as in ancient times the plant is common, give 

 it the popular name oi polytrichum, or "many hair; " while we, 

 in our day, apply this name to a coarse hair-like moss. In like 

 manner the generic name, Adiantum, is the one originally 

 applied to it by DIoscorides, the ancient Greek physician and 

 author, but for what reason is not known. Its literal meaning is 

 "dry;" and Pliny, the Roman writer, conjectures that it may 

 have been given to the fern, because when dipped in water the 

 frond seems still dry when withdrawn. But here is the same 

 objection as in the other case, that other ferns and other plants 

 have the same appearance under such circumstances; and we 

 have to rest satisfied with merely knowing that these are the 

 ancient names as given to this plant. 



Among the interesting matters connected with this species is 

 the quantity of juice which the fronds contain. It is said that 

 one pound of the fresh herb will give nearly one pound of juice, 

 as if the whole plant were but water with a litde filmy matter 

 thrown in. This juice was the basis of a beverage once popu- 

 lar in France ; but a querulous English writer of the last gener- 



