42 
air, and often settle on some chink in the mortar of an old 
wall. There a little plant is formed, upward the little curled in 
frond raises itself, downward the root insinuates, and hastens 
the destruction of the building upon which it settles. By 
far the most luxuriant specimens are gathered on the shady 
hedge-banks. It is found growing in a perfectly wild state, 
and not an artificial position, such as walls, hedges, &c., on 
the clifTs of Beer. 
This plant has no pretensions to medicinal virtues, but is 
generally substituted for the true Maidenhair for making 
capillaire. Old Gerarde says, “The decoction made in 
wine, and drunk, helpeth them that are short winded. It 
helpeth the cough, ripeneth the tough phlegm, and voideth 
it by spitting. The lie wherein it hath been sodden, or 
laid to infuse, is good to wash the head, causing the scurf 
and scales to fall off and hair to grow in places, that are 
pilled and bare.” 
Probably it is designated Maiden-hair Spleen- wort, as 
bearing a humble representation to the true Maiden-hair, 
Adiantum capillus Veneris. The classical name was given 
from two Greek words, signifying to luxuriate in hair, be- 
cause it was considered to “ stay the shedding of the hair, 
and cause it to grow thick.”* There is very little difference 
in the nomenclature of this species. 
This Pern is introduced with advantage upon ornamental 
rock work. As there is great difOiculty in extracting the 
root from walls, cultivators should transplant those growing 
on hedge-banks. The humble cottager, if he neatly inserts 
this Spleenwort on banks or rude stones, with others inter- 
mixed, may have as beautiful a Pernery as the proudest 
Peer in the land. 
“ I'll seek tke shaggy fern-clad hill. 
*###*** 
And watch ’mid murmurs muttering stern 
The seed departing from the Fern : 
’Ere wakeful demons can convey, 
The wonder-working charm away.” — Leyden. 
Plate II, fig. 13. 
2. Black-stalked Spleenwort. Asplenium adiantum ni~ 
* Parkinson, Page 1051. 
