124 



C. montana — Mountain bladder fern, found only on Ben 

 -Gourdie — between Glenlyon and Glen Lochay — is known to the 

 shepherds and farmers there by the name of Rainneach Bheinn 

 Ghourdie. 



Polystichum aculeatum, lobatum, and angulare — Gaelic : ibhig 

 (Rev. Dr. Stewart), the name by which the shield-ferns are known 

 in the West Highlands. This name may have reference to the 

 medicinal drinks formerly made from the powdered roots being 

 taken in water as a specific for worms (see L. filix-mas), from ibh, 

 a drink. French: ivre. Latin: ebrius. 



P. lonchitis — Holly fern. Gaelic : raineach chuilinn (Stewart), 

 holly fern, known by that name in Lome : also colg raineach, in 

 Breadalbane and elsewhere. For cuileann and colg, see Ilex 

 aqirifolium. 



Lastrea oreopteris — Sweet mountain fern. Gaelic : crim-raineach 

 (Stewart). Most likely from creitn, a scar, the stalks being covered 

 •with brown scarious scales. In some places the name raineach an 

 fhaile is given, from faile, a scent, a smell. This species may be 

 easily distinguished by the minute glandular dots on the under side 

 of the fronds, from which a fragrant smell is imparted when the 

 plant is bruised. 



L. filix-mas — Male fern. Gaelic and Irish: marc raineach, 

 horse-fern. Marc. Welsh : march. Old High German : marah, 

 a mare. This fern has been celebrated from time immemorial as 

 a specific for worms; the powdered roots, taken in water, were 

 considered an excellent remedy. Irish : raineach-madra, dog-fern. 



L. spinulosa, and the allied species, dilatata and Fcenisecii, are 

 known by the name raineach nan rodan, from Latin, rodo. 

 Sanscrit: rad, to break up, split, gnaw — the rat's fern, in Morven, 

 Mull, and Lewis. "Dr. Hooker is mistaken as to the range of this 

 fern, as it is extremely abundant here, at least in the form of 

 dilatata'" — (Lewis correspondent). 1 The name rat's fern, from its 

 commonness in holes, and the haunts of rats. 



1 My well-informed correspondent also remarks: — "I may mention one or 

 two other plants, regarding which Dr. Hooker's information is slightly out. 

 His Salix repens is very common here and in Caithness, though absent in at 

 least some parts further south. Utricularia minor can easily be found in 

 quantities near the Butt of Lewis ; and Scutellaria minor, which he allows no 

 further than Dumbarton, grows equally far north, although all I am aware of 

 could be covered by a table-cloth. Another interesting plant, Eryngium 

 maritimum, grows in a single sandy bay on our west coast." 



