THE LADY FERN AND ITS KIN. 183 
Aspleniums. It is a nice question to decide whether or 
not the position and behavior of the indusium entitle 
this fern to be put in a separate genus. 
The name of lady fern is of very ancient origin, going 
back to the time when this was supposed to be the spe- 
cies which bore the “ mystic fern seed,” so valued for its 
reputed power to render its possessor invisible. In those 
days it was not lady fern, but female fern, the male fern 
being Aspidium filix-mas. ‘The original female fern was 
the bracken, but when the name was transferred to this 
fern, many of the miraculous powers ascribed to the 
bracken seem to have come with it. Some curious stories 
A woodland form. 
are told of this wonderful fern seed. In one, a man, 
passing through a wood when the seed was ripe, got 
some into his shoes without knowing it, which of course 
rendered him invisible. Reaching home he entered, but 
his presence was not noticed. When he spoke, the family 
were startled at the sound of his voice and supposed him 
to be hiding. At length, hearing him walking about the 
room, they thought of the fern seed, and calling to him 
to take off his shoes, he did so, and became visible again. 
In Russia, in addition toits other virtues, fern seed was 
supposed to confer second sight. It is related that a 
man went out to search for his cattle, when some fern 
seed fell into his shoes. He at once knew where his cattle 
were and discovered a buried treasure besides. Going 
