POISONOUS DRUGS 



179 



Fig. 170. — Male-fern (A^ptdium Filix-mas, Polypody ramil3-. Polypodiaceie). 

 1, plant showing the rootstock which grows underground and pro- 

 duces roots below, and above gives rise to leaves which unfold from 

 coils (a, a) and finally produce "fruit dots" or sori on the back, }. 

 '2, rootstock cut across showing the woody vessels (a, a) through which 

 the sap runs. 5, segment of the leaf, under side, showing sori or clusters 

 of spore-cases (6) each cluster protected by a cover or 'indusium{a) . 4^ 

 a sorus cut vertically across the indusiuni. 5, the same cut at right 

 an^e to 4 through the leaf (a), much enlarged to show the indusium (6), 

 and the spore-cases (c). 6, a spore-case discharging spores. (Wos- 

 sidlo.) — A perennial herb; leaves about 30-100 cm. long; fruit dots 

 brownish. Native home, Northern Europe and North America. 



