ASPIDIUM — SIIIELD-FERN. 



279 



SCOLOrEXDRIUM.— IlAiiT'sToNc.tTR. 



Scolopendrium vulgare Smith. — Ilart's-ToiHpic 



DcHcriplion. — Fruit-dots linear, one-fourth to ono-hfilf inch \o\\^, con- 

 tiguous by twos, covered by a delicate indusiuna which is torn away at 

 maturity, and, the two coalescing, appear like a single one. Frond oblong- 

 lanceolate, auricled at the base, wavy on the margins, f! to IS inches long 

 by 1 to 2 inches wide, smooth and shining, bright green' on stipes 3 to 4 

 inches long. 



Ifuldlat. — In a few shaded limestone ravines near Syracuse, N. Y., 

 and sparingly in the Lake 

 Superior region of ]?ritish 

 America ; very common in 

 Europe. 



J'arls Used. — The fronds 

 — not official. 



CotD^tifucntx. — INFucilagi- 

 nous and astringent princi- 

 jilcs. 



IM'jjaraliuns. — Used in 

 decoction. 



7ifedical Properties and 

 Uses. — Scolopendrium is one 

 of the unimportant remedies 

 much used by the ancients. 

 It is considered diui'etic and 

 slightly astringent. 



ASPIDIUM.— SnrELU-FF.ux. 



Chnracfer of the Genus. — 

 Fruit-dots I'ound. Indusium 

 flat or ilattish, scarious, or- 

 bicular and peltate at the cen- 

 tre, or somewliat rcniform, 

 fixed at thecent.ro or the sinus, and opciiiii';- 

 persistent, not articulated with tlie rootstuck. 



Aspidium Filix-mas Swartz. — Mule Fern. 



Desrriiifion. — Fruit-dots rather large, nearer the mid-vein than the mai'- 

 gin, and usually confined to the lower half of the fei'tile pinnules. Fronds 

 lanceolate, 1 to 3 feet high, bijiinnate, the upper pinnules confiuout, 

 some of the lower pinnatitid-toothed ; pinnules oblong, obtuse, serrate at 

 the apex. Stipes cliafiy at the base. The rootstock is from 3 to (5 inches 

 long, ^ to 1 inch thick, or with the stijie-remnants 2 to 3 inches in diam- 

 eter, densely covered with glossy bx jwn chaffy scales. 



Fid, KU). — Aspiilium Filix-iims. 



all around ; stijie withering- 



