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250 TH E BRITISH FERNS.
temperate parts of North America : e.g. Florida, Arkansas, Alabama,
California, Texas; in South America: Mexico, Guatemala, San-
tarem, Para, Caraccas, Chili; in the West Indies: Trinidad, St.
Vincent’s, Dominica, Jamaica; in the Sandwich Islands, in New
Caledonia, and in the New Hebrides at Anieteum. These habitats,
those of the New World especially, include several gradations of a
deeply-lobed form, which in its most marked condition is the var.
fi. (incisum) of Sir W. J. Hooker.
This plant like many other Ferns had formerly a high medicinal
reputation, which has not been sustained. This was especially employed
as a diuretic and expectorant. It is now only used in the
preparation of Capillaire, to which it gives its name and a slight flavour.
This preparation, known in the shops as Syrup of Capillaire, is made
by pouring boiling syrup upon the freshly gathered fronds, and is perfumed
with orange flowers. Dr. Deakin states that an infusion of the
plant is also used, in the form of tea, and that it makes a pleasant
drink in cases of fever. Though abundant in the south of Furope,
where Capillaire is chiefly made, the A. pedatum of North America is
often substituted for it, being cultivated for the purpose according to
Mr. Johnson. Both species are astringent, and regarded as useful
in coughs, &o., hut a strong decoction of the North American kind is
stated to possess emetic properties. Capillaire is known throughout
Europe as a refreshing beverage, when diluted with water. In
Arran a decoction of the leaves is used instead of tea.
The Maidenhair grows freely in a moist close greenhouse, or in a
hothouse, the temperature of which it enjoys. It grows very readily
in baskets, and is also well suited for pot-oulture. When grown in
pots, it should he plauted in the usual light compost used for Ferns,
with abundant drainage ; and the caudex should not be buried in the
soil, but kept at the surface. The best compost of this nature, is made
of small broken lumps of turfy peat, with a small proportion, not
more than one-fourth, of light mellow loam, and an abundant
admixture of silver sand. The small size and exceedingly elegant
character of the Maidenhair renders it well suited for a Wardian
case, for which also its habit is quite adapted. The plants are
injured by severe cold, even when in a closed house, so that it
THE COMMON MAIDENHAIR FERN.
cannot be considered a hardy Fern. They may he increased by
division of the caudex, and sometimes by means of little bulbils
wbioh are developed on the edges of the pinnules. Mr. Clapham
has sent us a very interesting example of this proliferous growth
produced in his fernery ; in this case not only the edges of the
pinnules but the axils of those near the top of the frond produce
little scaly bulbs or buds.
A Fern ranging so widely over the world might he expected to
show some modifications of form, and such is indeed the case,
though only two or three, and these not very strongly marked, are
met with in this country. These are the foUowing :—
1. ramulosum (M.). This form is chiefly remarkable for having
the main raohis divided two or three times near the top, so that the
apex of the frond is formed of a spreading tuft of short pinnate
branches. The pinnules are here and there reduced or spUt unequaUy
into narrow portions, or of unequal size, so that there is a partial
depauperation below and an excess of development of the apex.
This appears to be more or less the case with all the fronds. It is
of Irish origin, and has been sent by Mr. Clapham.
2. incisum (M.). This form has both the barren and fertile
pinnules throughout the frond somewhat regularly split down
into long narrow wedge-shaped lohes, but is otherwise of the usual
growth. There are various gradations of this variety, both native
and foreign. It is somewhat rare in this country, but is occasionally
met with. It has been found_in Ireland by Dr. AUohiu ; Mr. Newman
records it from Mewstone Bay, in Devonshire ; and it has been
sent from Guernsey by Mr. James.
3. rotundatum (M.). This sub-variety, found in the Isle of Man
by Mr. T. G. Hylands, and occurring also in a nearly similar form
on the south-west coast of England, has a peculiar aspect. The
chief peculiarity in the most marked, i.e., the Manx plant, consists in
the basal pinnules having a rounder outline than usual, with the
base truncate ; in addition, the fronds are narrow, and the pinnæ
more spreading. The usual cuneated base which is wanting in
these pinnules, appears, however, in the upper parts of the same
fronds.
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