44 



banum. In some parts of the Colony, the dry leaves are 

 pulverised, and with fat made into an ointment, which is 

 cooling, and very serviceable in burns and scalds. The 

 vernacular name of this plant is Brand-boschjes. 



LASTREA. Presl. 

 ( Filices.^ 



XXIV.^ — CRYPTOGAMIA. LIN. SYST. 



96. Lastrea athamantica, Moore. Stipe erect, 

 flexuose, covered at base with long linear deciduous 

 scales. Fronds leathery, smooth, lanceolate, three- 

 pinnate. PinncR stalked, oblong, acuminate. Frimary 

 pinnules sessile, ovato-oblong, wedge-shaped at base, 

 decurrent ; secondary, sickle-shaped, oblong, blunt, 

 veiny. Sori round, solitary Involucre kidney-shaped. 



A fern, growing on grassy hills and in moist places, near 

 Port Natal. The Zoolu Kafirs, who know it by the name 

 of UncomocomOf use it as a vermifuge, and its caudex, given 

 in the form of powder, infusion, or electuary, has been 

 proved to be excellent in helminthiasis, and especially in 

 the cure of the tape- worm. 



ADIANTHUM. Lin. 



{Filices.) 

 XXIV. — CRYPTOGAMIA. LIN. SYST. 



97. Adianthum cethiopicum. Lin. Caudex fibrous. 

 Stipe compressed, waving, purplish. Fronds very deli- 

 cate, transparent, decompound, smooth. Pinnce alter- 

 nate on capillary stalks. Pinnules rhomboidal, crenate 

 at apex, traversed by forked nerves. 



An infusion of this herb is sometimes used as an emol- 

 lient in coughs, and in diseases of the chest. A syrup is 

 also prepared from it, and it forms part of the species 

 pectorales of the pharmacopoeia. The Basuto Kafirs, who 

 call this fern Ma-o-ru-rnetsoOj employ its caudex in the 

 shape of decoction for promoting parturition. 



FUCOIDE^. 



XXIV. — CRYPTOGAMIA (ALGiE). LIN. SYST. 



98. The peculiar substance called Iodine, and now 

 so universally appreciated as a powerful remedy, is 



