late ; pinnae alternate ; pinnules wedge- obovate, irregu- 
larly incised. 
Reported from Southern Virginia. I have not seen this hand- 
some fern in its wild state. It is undoubtly our handsomest culti- 
vated fern. It holds its own in beauty with the preceding species. 
The leaves of A, Capillus. V^eneris have been used in 
the art of medecine from time immemorial ; they are 
known in pharmacy as Herba Capillorum Veneris s. 
I^olia Ca///// and were used in making a sirup i^Syru- 
pus Capillorum) , The medecine men of the Cherokees 
used a decoction from A. pedatum against rheumatism 
and chills. [J. Mooney, in 7th. Ann. Rep. Bur. Ethn. 
326. 1891.] 
12. ANCHISTEA. Presl. 
Nomen derivatum ab ayxto'T€o<s agnatus^ affinitatem 
cum Woodwardia et Doodia indicans, Presl, 1849. 
Epimel. Bot. 71, 
Robust ferns. Rootstock long, creeping. Leaves of one 
kind. Sori oblong in rows along the midrib of the pinnae 
and the central vein of the lobes. 
1. A. virginica (L.) Presl. 
Filix mas vulgari similis . . Pluk, Phyt. 3 : t. 
179. f . 2. 
Blechnuin virginicum L. 1771. Mailt. 2 : 307. 
Woodwardia virginica J, E, Smithy i793' 
Mem. Acad. Turin, 5 : 412. Eaton^ Ferns N. 
Am. 2; 45. t.52; in Gray, Man. 683. Underw. 
28 
