112 
POLYPODIACEiE. 
form.^ The Linnean name of Polypodium vulgare appears to 
have been universally adopted. 
The medicinal properties of the common Polypody were 
once highly extolled, but the plant is now fast falling into dis- 
repute among medical men : a mucilaginous decoction of its 
fronds was formerly very commonly administered to children, as 
a cure for worms, colds, and the hooping-cough; and I have 
seen elderly women collecting it in Herefordshire, as a specific 
against the latter disease : it is gathered in October and No- 
vember, when full of seed, the barren fronds being rejected ; it 
is hung up in the cottage to dry, and when required for use is 
slowly boiled with coarse raw sugar. It is called by these ga- 
therers Golden locks, and Golden Maiden-hair. 
The roots are brown, and often clothed with a thick pilosity. 
The rhizoma is brown, and entirely covered with a densely pi- 
lose cuticle, which dries and peels off after one year’s growth, 
leaving the rhizoma smooth ; it is decidedly creeping, making 
annual advances of considerable extent. The young fronds are 
thrown out in May and June; they arrive at maturity early in 
September, and retain their full vigour until the fronds of the 
succeeding year make their appearance. The young fronds are 
generally erect at first, but droop by degrees, and are always 
pendent when mature : the stem is green, and nearly equals the 
frond in length ; the form of the frond is strap-shaped and pin- 
natifid, and acute at the apex, (fig. d) ; the pinnae are nearly 
linear, and rounded at the apex, their margins are more or less 
serrated. The usual size is shown by the detached pinnae, re- 
presented in the preceding page, (figs, h and c). The fronds 
are fertile only, and the clusters of capsules are generally con- 
fined to the upper part of each : when without fruit, the imper- 
fection arises from uncongenial situation, and the plant is not to 
be considered in a perfectly natural and healthy state. 
The situation of the veins is shown in the detached pinna (fig. 
c) : the lateral veins are alternate, and each is divided into four 
branches, three of which extend nearly to the margin, and are 
incrassated at their termination ; the fourth is directed forwards, 
* Ger. Em. 1132, both figures. 
