110 VI L 1 . A ST l; I A . 
mary and secondary rachises, and minute though copious 
sori. It might be distiuguibhed as a variety by the name 
of paleacea. 
The typal form of Lastrea Filix-mcu is one of our 
commonest ferns, abounding everywhere, in wooded and 
in shady situations, and occurring commonly in hedge 
banks. It is met with over the whole continent of Europe, 
and is widely dispersed elsewhere. 
The Male Fern, in conjunction with the Common 
Bracken (Pteris aquitina), is applied to various eco- 
nomic uses, such as the dressing of leather, the manu- 
facture of glass, the bleaching of linen, &c. uses which 
which will hereafter be noticed in treating on that species. 
The inhabitants of Siberia are said to boil the Male Fern 
in their ale to improve its flavour. la Norway the dried 
fronds are infused in hot water, and thus form a palatable 
food for cattle, sheep, and goats, which eagerly eat and 
even fatten upon it. In the dried state it forms a warm 
litter for cattle, or a good light protective covering for 
plants ; and either in the fresh or decayed state is useful 
as manure. Medicinally it has obtained some celebrity as 
an anthelmintic, in which character it was known to the 
ancients. Formerly it was employed much more frequently 
than now, not, however, it appears so much on account of 
its inefficiency, as from the greater facility with which 
other and perhaps better understood agents are procured. 
Thus Gerarde writes: "The roots of the male fern, 
being taken to the weight of half an ounce, driveth forth 
long flat worms, as Dioscorides writeth, being drunk in 
mede or honied water, and more effectually if it be given 
with two scruples, or two third parts of a dram of scamo- 
nie, or of black hellebore; they that will use it, must first 
eat garlicke." The famous remedy of Madame Noufler, 
of Switzerland, for expelling tape worms had this plant 
for its basis. In the form of etherial extract, from 12 to 
24 grains form a dose (at night and again in the morning) 
or from 1 to 3 drachms of the powder. The inner parts of 
