tt Leaves with a continuous rachis. 
2. A. Capillus-Veneris L. Ble 52 
Adiantum Capillus- Veneris L.\.c. 1096. Eaton, 
Ic. 1: 281. t. 37; in Gray 1. c. 680. Underw. in 
Til. Fl. 1: 27; Nat. Ferns 89; in Britt. |. c. 7. 
Clute, 1. ¢.246. Waters, \.. 91. 
MAIDENHAIR FERN, 
Plants 4 dm. or higher; leaves ovate-lanceolate ; pin- 
nae alternate; pinnules wedge-obovate, irregularly in- 
cised. 
Reported from Southern Virginia. 1 have seen no 
specimens from regions north of Wilmington, N.C. 
The leaves of A. Cafpillus- Veneris have heen used 
in medicine from time immemorial; they are known in 
pharmacy as Herba Capillorum Veneris s. Folia Ca- 
pille and were used in making a sirup (Syrupus Capit- 
lorum). 
Adiantum pedatum (see Linn. Spec. p. 1095.) was 
also one of the plants in which a flourishing trade is car- 
ried on by Canada. Cornut in his Canadens, plant. 
hist. p. 7. callsit Adéantum americanum; itisalso de- 
scribed and illustrated on p. 6. In Canada the plant is 
called mostly Herba capillaris, and Matdenhaire by the 
English in their colonzes, It grows in abundance in all 
the English provinces through which I have journeyed ; 
it is just as frequent in Southern Canada, but I have nev- 
er observed it about Quebec. It thrives particularly in 
shady forests and in rather rich soil. Several people in 
Albany and Canada told me that its [leaves] were much 
27 
