400 
with a little aroma, on which account many are considered pectoral and leni- 
tive, especially Adiantum pedatum and Capillus V eneris ; but almost any 
others may be substituted for them. Capillaire is so called from being pre- 
pared from the Adiantum Capillus Veneris, a plant which is considered to be 
undoubtedly pectoral and slightly astringent ; though its decoction, if strong, 
is, according to Ainslie, a certain emetic. The Peruvian Polypodium Calaguala, 
Acrostichum Huacsaro, and Polypodium crassifolium, are said to be possessed 
of important medicinal properties, especially the former; their effects are 
reported to be solvent, deobstruent, sudorific, and antirheumatic ; antivenereal 
and febrifugal virtues are also ascribed to them. See the Pharmacopma 
Madritensis, 1792, and Lambert’s Illustration of the Genus Cinchona, 114. 
The leaves of Adiantum melanocaulon are believed to be tonic in India. 
Ainslie, 2. 215. The tubes of the pipes of the Brazilian negroes are manu- 
factured from the stalk of Mertensia dichotoma, which they call Samanbaya. 
Pr. Max. Trav. 96. The bruised fronds of the fragrant Angiopteris evecta 
are employed in the Sandwich Islands to perfume the Cocoa-nut oil. Poly- 
podium phymatodes is also used for the same purposes. D’Urv. The stem 
is, on the contrary, both bitter and astringent ; whence that of many species, 
, such as Aspidium Filix Mas, and Pteris aquilina, has been employed as an 
anthelmintic. They have also been given as emmenagogues and purgatives. 
Osmunda regalis has been employed successfully, in doses of 3 drachms, in the 
rickets. The rhizoma of Aspidium Filix Mas has been analysed, and found 
by Morin to contain, 1st, volatile oil ; 2d, a fat matter composed of elaine and 
stearine ; 3d, gallic and acetic acids ; 4th, uncrystalhsable sugar ; 5th, tannin ; 
6th, soap ; 7th, a gelatinous matter insoluble in water and in alcohol. It 
contains also the subcarbonate, sulphate, and hydrochlorate of potash, car- 
bonate and phosphate of lime, alumine, silex, and oxyde of iron. Brewster, 
2. 176. The roots of Nephrodium esculentum are eaten in Nipal, according 
to Buchanan. Don Prodr. 6. Those of Angiopteris evecta are used for food 
in the Sandwich Islands, under the name of Nehai. Diplazium esculentum, 
Cyathea meduUaris, Pteris esculenta, and Gleichenia dichotoma, are also 
occasionally employed for food in different countries. Pteris aquilina and 
Aspidium Filix Mas have even been used in the manufacture of beer, and As- 
pidium fragrans as a substitute for tea. Agdh. 
Order CCLXXVI. POLYPODIACE^. 
GvRATiE, Swartz Synopsis Filicum, (1806). — Filices verae, Willd. Sp. PI. 5. 99. (1810). — 
PoLYPODiACEiE, R. Broivu Prodr. 145. (1810); Agardh Aph. 116. (1822); Kaul- 
fuss Enumeratio, 55. (1824) ; Bory in Diet. Class. 6. 586. (1824) ; Endlicher Prodr. 
Norf.1. (1833); Martins in PI. Crypt. (1834). — Cyatheace^, Kaulf. enum. 
(1824) ; Endl. 1. c.; Martins, Ic. pi. crypt. 62. (1834). 
Differential Character. — furnished with a vertical, usually incomplete, annu- 
lus ; bursting irregularly and transversely. 
GENERA. 
(A. Nndce, Hooker.) 
§ 1. Polypodiace^. 
Acrostiche^e, 
Freyc. et Kaulf. 
Acrostichum, L. 
Polybotrya, Humb. 
Olfersia, Raddi. 
Bolbitis, Schott. 
Platycerium, Desv. 
Nemoplatyceros, 
Pluk. 
^ POLYPODIEiE, Bory. 
Polypodium, Sw. 
Marginaria, Bory. 
Psilopodinm, Neck. 
Lastrcea, Bory. 
Drynaria, Bory. 
Dipteris, Reinw. 
Anaxetum, Schott. 
? Llavea, Lga. 
Adenophorus, Gaud. 
Amphradenium, 
Desv. 
Niphobolus, Kaulf. 
Cyclophorns, Desv. 
Candollea, Mirb.? 
Pyrrhosia, Mirb. 
