ROYAL FERN. 
8S 
describing its stem, which, on being cut through, ex¬ 
hibits a whitish centre, he calls it the “ Heart of 
Osmund the Waterman,” referring to a tradition 
existing, that a waterman of this name, dwelling at 
Loch Fyne, on one occasion bravely defended his 
family from the cruel Danes, and sheltered them 
among the tall branches of this magnificent plant. 
The medicinal properties of the Flowering Fern are 
extolled by old writers as having “ all the virtues 
mentioned in other ferns, and is much more effectual 
than they both for inward and outward griefs, and 
is accounted good in wounds, bruises, or the like. 
The decoction to be drunk, or boiled into an ointment 
of oil as a balsam or balm ; and so it is singular good 
against bruises and bones broken or out of joint.” The 
root, when boiled, yields a sort of mucilage, which, 
in the North of Europe, is used for stiffening linen. 
This showy and attractive fern should find a place 
in all collections. It is not difficult of culture, and 
thrives well on the margin of a piece of water, or on 
rock-work near water. On the banks of ponds or 
lakes, and in a damp peaty soil, with plenty of mois¬ 
ture, it will attain its natural luxuriance. 
Mr. Ward, the inventor of the closed plant cases, 
and the cultivator and lover of ferns, so arranged an 
artificial watercourse, in his little garden at Clapham, 
as to grow Osnut7tda regulis , and other bog plants, 
with great success. 
