34 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



and Gleichenia Hermanni ; and it is worth remark that these 

 species represent almost all the principal groups into which 

 Ferns are scientifically divided. 



But while the child of nature turns to the Fern for food, 

 his more civilized brother seeks in it a medicine ; and he 

 finds it ! Two of our common native species, the Filix-mas 

 and the Bracken, especially the former, have the reputation 

 of being remedies against intestinal worms, in consequence 

 of their bitter and astringent qualities, which properties are 

 possessed by the stems of many other species. Another 

 native Fern, the Eoyal Fern, has been successfully used in 

 cases of rickets. From the astringent mucilage present in 

 the green parts of many of the species, they are reckoned 

 pectoral and lenitive ; and both the native Adiantum 

 Capillus-Veneris, and the American Adiantum pedatum, are 

 thus employed in the form of capillaire, which is prepared 

 from them by pouring boiling syrup over the fronds, and 

 flavouring it with orange flowers ; this preparation is con- 

 sidered undoubtedly pectoral, though if too strong it is said 

 to be emetic. Other species of Adiantum, as well as some 

 Polypodium&, AcrosticJiums, and Noihochl&na*, are reported 

 to possess medicinal properties. 



Both the common Bracken and the Male Fern abound 



