F1LICES. 1391 



(calycopteris floribunda) ; 2 tolas ghas-pitpapra (Rostelluharia 

 procumbens) ; 2 tolas Ringan-mul (root of Solanum indicura) ; 2 

 tolas Balbel-phal (small immature fruit of Mg\e Marmalos), 

 2 tolas Padmini-mul (root of Nelumbium speciosum), 4 tolas 

 sonar-wel-mul, 2 tolas gokhru-mul (root of Tribulus terrestris). 

 These nine drugs are to be powdered and divided into seven 

 parts. For administration each part is to be boiled in 40 tola s 

 of water, sweetened with 2 tolas of sugar-candy, and the 

 decoction (Kara) boiled down to one-sight ; this is to be taken 

 in the morning, and the mare is to be again treated in the same 

 manner to furnish the nikara (second decoction) or evening 

 dose. The same prescription is recommended in hectic fever 

 from whatever cause, and in dyspepsia and cough ; during its 

 use potatoes and indigestible vegetables are to be avoided. 

 (Dymock). 



1357. Pleopeltis lanceolata, Linn. 

 Ref:—Bedd. Handbook to Ferns of Br. Ind. &c. p. 351. 

 Habitat : — Nilgiris and higher mountains on the West side 

 of the Madras Presidency ; Assam and Ceylon. 



Rhizome long-creeping, paleaceous, with lanceolate ferru- 

 ginous scales, stipes remote, 1-2-4 inches long ; fronds coriace- 

 ous, 3-9 inches long, £-f inch wide, lanceolate, more or less 

 acuminate, long and gradually attenuated at the base, copiously 

 furnished with orbicular ovate, small appressed peltate scales 

 dark in the centre, pale in the circumference and denticulate ; 

 veins immersed indistinct, the primary veins form large 

 obliquely elongated areoles, which include very irregular and 

 different sized areoles, and a few free veinlets which are rarely 

 forked ; sori generally very large and often exceedingly pro- 

 minent, pulvinate globose or oval, stalked scales mixed with 

 the spore cases. 



Uses : — In Mexico, a tea made from the fronds of this fern 

 is taken to cure the itch (I. N. Rose's Notes on useful plants of 

 Mexico.) This fern is not used in India for any medicinal 

 purposes, (B.D.B). 



Dr. M. C. Cooke, in his paper on Medicinal Ferns, published 



