108 FERNS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Wild Celery, was added, and both were boiled in oil 

 and wine. 



The Canadian species of Maiden-hair {Adidntum pedd- 

 tum) was introduced into this kingdom by John Trades- 

 cant. It grows in Canada in such profusion, that when 

 the French were in possession of that country they 

 were accustomed to send over large quantities of the 

 plant to Prance merely as a package for goods, and 

 hence the druggists of Paris used this fern extensively 

 instead of the true Maiden-hair. Both plants possess 

 some astringency, and in Prance are still taken for 

 coughs ; but the chief use of Maiden-hair in our times 

 is in the preparation of Capillaire, which is made by 

 boiling the fern into a syrup with sugar, and flavouring 

 it with orange-flowers. The Prench term our native 

 species Capillaire de Montpellier ; but they also call it 

 Adianthe ; while the Dutch and Germans term it Venus- 

 haar, and the Spaniards and Italians, Adianto. It is 

 a safer plant to use in decoction than the Canadian 

 species, as that has some emetic properties, if taken in 

 any quantity. Our beautiful plant grows in great 

 abundance in the South Isles of Arran, off the coast of 

 Galway, covering the rocks with its light green fronds ; 

 and the people of these isles use it as a substitute for 

 tea. In India, a pretty species, A. melanococcum, is much 

 prized as a tonic medicine. 



16. Trichomanes (Bristle Pern). 



1. T. radioans (Rooting Bristle Pern). — Fronds three 

 or four times pinnatifid, segments alternate, hnear, 

 entire or two-cleft, obtuse ; involucres solitary in the axils 



