PROPERTIES AND USES. * 385 



3. PROPERTIES AND USES OF FERNS. 



Although Ferns rank as one of the few great families 

 of the Vegetable Kingdom that contain upwards of 2,000 

 species, and, as already shown, are widely distributed over 

 the earth, they nevertheless possess but few economic pro- 

 perties useful to man, either as food, medicine, or in the 

 arts. The following are the names of the principal, and 

 the uses to which they have been applied. 



Phlebodium aureum. 



The fleshy caudex is purgative, and it is one of the 

 Ferns called Calahula. 



Phymatodes vulgaris. 



The fronds are slightly fragrant, and are used by the 

 South Sea Islanders for perfuming cocoa-nut oil. P. pus- 

 tulata is used by the New Zealanders to scent their oil and 

 food. 



Polypodium vulgare. 



By the ancients, and our old doctors and herbalists, 

 many medical virtues were ascribed to the common Poly- 

 pody. In Greece, and other parts of Europe, it is used 

 as a cure for ringworm ; and in this country an infusion 

 of the fresh root is still regarded as a mild laxative. In 

 some places a decoction of the dried fronds is still used as 

 a remedy for colds and whooping cough. Its fronds yield 

 carbonate of potass. 



Campyloneuron PJiyllitidis. 



This is one of the Ferns termed in South America 

 Calahula, which with the natives is a celebrated medicine 

 for many complaints, especially for syphilis, gout, and 

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