42 
BRITISH FERNS. 
ferns, the inner parts are soft and pulpy, and have a 
sort of flesh-colour; the sap is also of a rich red hue, 
resembling blood; so that from these materials the 
inventions of the wonder-loving peasantry of Tartary 
formed the fable which met with ready belief from 
the credulous traveller, who was strongly imbued with 
the love of the marvellous, so common in the age in 
which he lived. This fern, however, possesses astrin¬ 
gent properties in a somewhat greater degree than 
other species, and was formerly in repute as a styptic. 
Fresh plants were often brought to the markets at 
Macao, but none ever reached this country alive. 
Nephrodium Filix Mas has been often employed in 
brewing, as a substitute for hops, and has been found 
to be one of the mosi successful ingredients in beer 
when hops are absent. 
VARIETIES. 
Nephrodium Filix Mas incisa is a larger and 
more striking plant than the normal form, more robust, 
and sometimes growing to a height of three or four 
feet. The fronds are directly bipinnate and lanceolate, 
not contracting abruptly at the apex. The vernation 
is more distinctly and clearly developed. The pin¬ 
nules are longer, narrower, and more distant; the first 
upper pinnule is generally much longer than the first 
inferior. This variety is called by many writers Las- 
trea erosa ,, or Aspidium Filix Mas erosa. 
Nephrodium Filix Mas paleacea (or Borreri, 
