PHYLLITIS SCOLOPENDEIUM. 



275 



to have been misunderstood by previous writers. I would ob- 

 serve that the genus Phyllitis is not in any respect synonymous 



with the genus Scolopendrium, as constituted by its author, 

 who purposely so moulded it that the species Scolopendrium 

 and Ceterach might both be included, a union which appears 

 to me particularly unnatural. 



€nlimt 



The requirements of this fern are a free soil, shade, and 

 moisture : it is very ornamental on a shaded rockery. 



i0Mmiral IMS. 



We learn from the herbalists that this plant was formerly 

 much in vogue as a medicine. Ray speaks of it favourably as 

 an astringent, and of its healing powers, when applied as an 

 ointment to wounds and ulcers, (Syn. 117). Lightfoot says it 

 is used by the country people in Scotland, as a vulnerary for 

 burns and scalds (Fl. Scot. 661) ; and we learn from the ' Flore 

 Frangaise,' that it is used in France as an astringent in cases 

 of diarrhoea and haemorrhage, (Fl. Fr. ii. 555). The late Lady 

 Greenly, of Titley Court, Herefordshire, as appears by a paper 

 from the pen of Mr. E. Lees, in the ' Phytologist ' (Phytol. i. 

 521), took great pains to introduce and cultivate an evergreen 

 fern, called Dail llosg y Tan, as a remedy for burns ; and Mr. 



