984 CRYPTOGAMIA. FILICES. Blechnum. 
Crisped or Curled Fern. Parsley Fern. Stone Brakes. ( P.crispa . 
With. Sm. Hull. Hook, and Linn. MS. fid. Sm. Osmunda crispa. Linn. 
Sp. PI. Huds. Lightf. Bolt. Rocks,, heaths, old walls, in the northern 
counties frequent. Rutland. Mr. Jackson. Shap, very common ; also 
Tenterfell, near Kendal. Mr. Gough. Cader Idris: fructifications 
ripe in September. Mr. Griffith. (Styehead, Wastdale; Borrowdale; 
Teesdale ; Highlands of Scotland, frequent. Mr. Winch. E.) 
Var. 2. Leaves curled. 
Mr. Jackson has observed two varieties with curled leaves, the one curled 
like Parsley, the other like the flowering part of Osmunda regalis. 
(P. July. E.) 
P. aquili'na. Leaves more than doubly compound: leafits winged: 
wings spear-shaped; the lowermost wing-cleft; the upper ones 
smaller. 
(E. Bot. 1679. E.)— Ger. 969. 2 —Bull. 207— Bolt. 10 —Pluk. 182. 1— 
Blaclcw. 325— Fuchs * 596, misprinted 569— Bod. 462. 2— Trag. 542—• 
Matth. 1291— Gars. 272—Lob. Obs. 473. 2; Ic. i. 812. 2— Ger. Em. 1128. 
2— Park. 1037, misprinted 1039— H. Ox. xiv. 4. 3— Cam. Epit. 992. 
The root cut obliquely presents a kind of representation of the Imperial 
Eagle. Linn. Whence Linnaeus has named it P. aquilina , or Eagle 
Brakes.* 
Female Fern. Common Brakes. (Scotch: Brackens , or Brechen. 
Welsh: Adain-redynen eriraidd. Gaelic: Raineach. E.) Heaths and 
woods. P. Aug.f 
BLECH'NUM. Capsules forming two parallel lines near the 
rib of the leaf. 
* (Thomas Smith, Esq. of the Temple, London, has observed an inner or real invo¬ 
lucre, besides the one formed by the convolute margin of the frond, to which it is oppo¬ 
site, and, curling inward, covers the young capsules, and is only to be observed when the 
plant is in fructification ; the whole being protected by the outer one, or margin of the 
frond. Hook. Scot. A similar membrane to this inner involucre has been detected in 
some few other species usually included in the present genus ; hence it has been suggested 
that this difference might afford a character which would justify a new genus. The prin¬ 
ciple, perhaps, abstractedly, it were difficult to deny, but not less so, practically, the 
inconvenience of establishing a primary distiction on parts absolutely imperceptible to the 
naked eye. Dr. Greville informs us that the ferruginous filaments which are produced by 
the root of this plant, and some of its congeners, have been described by Agardh and other 
authors, as a Conferva ! E.) 
4 A tolerably pure alkali may be obtained from this plaat. In many parts of England 
the ashes, mixed with water, are formed into balls; which are afterwards heated in 
the fire, and used to make lye for scouring linen. It makes a very durable thatch ; and 
is an excellent litter for horses and cows. Where coal is scarce, it is used to heat ovens and 
to burn limestone; for it yields a very violent heat. In the more inhospitable climates, 
bread is prepared from the roots. The Fern-moth feeds upon it. (In Japan the very 
young shoots of the leaves are often sold in bunches as edible. The woody root is bruised, 
and the water being expressed in which it had been steeped, the pulp is eaten by the 
poorest people. Kempfer. Fern is so astringent as, in many places abroad, to be em¬ 
ployed for dressing kid and chamois leather. The powder of it is given by country people 
to remove worms. Its medicinal qualities appear to be much like those of Polypodium. 
Filix-mas. This elegant plant is not unknown in Scottish pastorals, and had more charms 
for the patriotic bard of Ayr than the boasted products of foreign lands : 
i( Far dearer to me yon lone glen o’ green Breckan , 
WL* the bum stealing under the lang yellow broom*'' E.) 
