672 CRYPTOGAMIA FILICES. 



In woods and flony foils abundantly, if. VII. 



The leaves are a cubit high, and grow in circular 

 fjfcs. 1 hey arc firft alternately pinnate, the 

 p'^7ja: increafing in fize from the bafe towards 

 the middle, and afterwards gradually decreafing 

 upwards to the fummit of the leaf. Thefe pinna 

 are again pinnatifid, or fubdivided almoft to the 

 nerve into obtufe parallel lobes, crenated on the 

 edges. The (talks are covered with brown filmy 

 fcales. 'I he frudifications are kidney- fhap'd, 

 and covered with a permanent fcaly fhield, or 

 invoJucrum. The capfules are of a pale brown, 

 furrounded with a faffron-colourM elaftic ring. 



This fern has nearly the fame qualities, and is ufed 

 for mofl of the fame intentions as the PTERIS 

 cquUi/ta. 'I hey are both burnt together, for 

 the fake of their afhes, which are purchafed by 

 the foap and glafs- makers. In the ifland of 

 Jura are exported, I was informed, annually, 

 15CL worth of thefe afhes. 



Cumer relates, in his Flor. Norveg. that the young 

 curled leaves, at their lirll appearance out of 

 the ground, are by fome boiled and eaten like 

 afparagus •, and that the poorer Norwegians cut 

 off thofe fucculent laminae, like the nails of thp 

 finger at the crown of the root, which are tne 

 bales of the future ftalks, and brew them into' 

 beer, adding thereto a third portion of malt, 

 and in times of great fcarcity mix the fame in 

 their bread. 



The 



