POISONOUS DRUGS 



179 



Fig. 170. — Male-fern (Aspidium Filix-mas, Polypody Family, Polypodiacece) . 



1, plant showing the rootstock which grows underground and pro- 

 duces roots below, and above gives rise to leaves which unfold from 

 coils (a, a) and finally produce "fruit dots" or sori on the back, i. 



2, rootstock cut across showing the woody vessels (a, a) through which 

 the sap runs. 3, segment of the leaf, under side, showing sori or clusters 

 of spore-cases (6) each cluster protected by a cover or indusiujn{a) . 4, 

 a sorus cut vertically across the indusium. 5, the same cut at right 

 angle to -i through the leaf (a), much enlarged to show the indusium (5), 

 and the spore-cases (c). 6', a spore-case discharging spores. (Wos- 

 sidlo.) — A perennial herb; leaves about 30-100 cm. long; fruit dots 

 brownish. Native home, Northern Europe and North America. 



