ASPLBNIUM TRICHOMANES. 61 
There are three varied forms of this Ferri. One, 
called incisum (cut), has the edges of each leafit deeply 
and irregularly cut, so as to resemble the leaf of some 
of the Cratseguses. Another form has the leafits so 
crowded together, that they overlap each other like the 
tiles of a house-roof ; and in the third form, sometimes 
called monstrosum (deformed), the end of the frond is 
branched, or forked. This last variety was found by 
Mr. D. Dick, at St. Mary's Isle, Kircudbright, and by 
Mr. J. R. Kinahan, at Quin Abbey, Clare 
This Fern is found in all parts of the British Islands, 
on the shady sides of rocks, old walls, and hedge-banks. 
In the situation last named it attains the greatest 
height. It is not confined, however, to our country, nor 
even to Europe, for it is found in various parts of Asia, 
Jamaica, and North America. 
It was known as one of our native plants to the 
earliest of our herbalists, for in " The seconde parte of 
William Turner's herball," published in 1568, he calls 
it " English Mayderis heare," and the woodcut leaves no 
doubt that it was our Asplenium trichomanes. He says 
"the juice stayeth the heare that falleth of, and if 
they be fallen off, it restoreth them agayne." Many 
other of our old medical writers speak of this Fern as 
that from which Capittaire is made, and there is little 
doubt but that it would impart as much virtue to that 
compound as does the Adiantum capillus veneris, or True 
Maidenhair, of which it ought to be made. It has, 
however, still some local reputation, the Highland 
dames of Scotland often forming from it a tea which 
