42 
FERNS. 
[ Aspidium . 
podium Filix-mass, Linn., Huds., Bolt., II oodo., Vicks., Ehrh., Ger., 11 ith., 
Lijhtf. — Polystichum Filix-mas, Roth., Decan.— Polysticlium Calliptens, 
Bernh. — Lastrsea Filix-mas, Presl, Neivm. 
p IG- e. B. 1458. — Bolt. 24. — TVoodv. 49. — Flo. Lon. 40. — Newm. (1854), 
' 183. — Moore (1853), p. 104. 
Des.— Rootstock large, tufted, black, and scaly. Leaves growing 
centrally from a crown, broadly lanceolate, pinnate. Pinnae lanceo- 
late, pointed, alternate, smooth, except on the under side of the 
midrib, of a bright green, regularly tapering, curved upwards, and 
so deeply cleft as to appear pinnate at first sight. Segments oblong, 
obtuse, slightly crenate at the sides, copiously at the end, very close 
together, but not overlapping each other. Sori confined to the 
upper half of the leaf, and to the lower half of each segment of 
the pinnae, situated near the mid-vein, round, large, and very 
prominent. Indusium large, orbicular, with a notch on one side, at 
first white and transparent, afterwards opaque, and of a fine icddish- 
brown, covering the thecae even till they are fully ripe. 
The large size, robust appearance, and decided character of this plant, obtained 
for it very early and very aptly the name of Male Fern. Medicinal properties of 
some importance have been ascribed to it, and apparently with justice. It is 
retained in most of the pharmacopoeias of Europe as a specific for the laigei 
kinds of intestinal worms, and used very extensively for that purpose by the 
faculty on many parts of the Continent, and if the employment of it has been 
discontinued here, it is not because of its inutility, hut from the discovery of 
other remedies equally potent and better understood. The stem and roots are 
hitter and astringent, and have been used instead of hops. It is sometimes found 
with a cormus some inches above the ground ; Mr. W. Wilson has seen it thus in 
Caernarvonshire, and Mr. Mackay in Wicklow. A white and green variegated 
variety is known. A singular variety, with the upper pinnae remarkably compound 
or branched ( var . cristata, Moore), has been observed in Bore-hill Lane, below 
Dorking, Surrey, by Mr. W. Pamplin. Also Mr. T. Clarke, jun., of Bridgewater, 
has been so kind as to send me from King’s Cliff Valley, four miles from that 
town, several leaves of a very large variety, which is found there in considerable 
abundance. It is of a very dark colour, has sori along the whole pinnule, and the 
pinnules themselves are all deeply serrated along their margin. Mr. Clarke also 
writes me, that Sir W. J. Hooker confirms his, and I may add, my opinion also, 
that this plant is a variety of Filix-mas, though Sir William observes that Schkuhr, 
who found it near Dresden, looked upon it as a ucvv species, and figured and 
described it as A. erosum. The continental A. Filix-mas is usually more crenate 
or serrate t han ours. 
r (erosa). Bipinnatc, pinnules less crowded, more elongate and narrower, 
incised-toothed. Lastrsea Filix-mas, var. ineisa, Moore, Sfc. 
Another form is also described : 
