14 MALE SHIELD FERN. 



fronds are from five to ten in number ; their position 

 nearly erect, or radiating from the centre. The sori 

 are rather large on the upper branch of the forked 

 lateral veins, and covered by a conspicuous kidney- 

 shaped indusium, which is attached to the vein just at 

 the point where the stalks of the capsules are situated. 

 It is one of the best species to study, with a view to 

 understand the fructification of ferns, on account of 

 the prominence of the indusium in fully-developed 

 fronds. It is of a more permanent character than 

 most other British ferns. 



The Male Fern is found in every country of Europe 

 and Northern Asia, and has been collected in Africa ; 

 but is not recognized as belonging to America. It 

 delights in woody and shady districts, and may be 

 found in almost every country ramble in England. It 

 is most abundant in cultivated districts, and in rich 

 soils it lives to a great age ; the fronds of each suc- 

 ceeding year appearing to increase in size. 



The medicinal properties of the Male Fern have 

 been held in high repute for many ages ; it is even 

 now retained in our Pharmacopoeias as a vermifuge, 

 and was recommended by Theophrastus, Dioscorides, 

 and Galen. Lately it has been extensively employed 

 as a remedy for tapeworm, and with good effect.* 

 Tragus has a very curious passage on the subject of its 

 curing wounds caused by reeds, and says that the 



* The attention of modern medical practitioners was probably 

 first directed to it in consequence of its being the ostensible 

 remedy of Madame Norisser, of Switzerland, who sold her secret 

 method of expelling tapeworm to Louis XVI. for 18,000 francs. 



