P o l y p o d iu m V u l g a r e . C om mo n P o l y p o d y .
POLYPODIUM
POLYPODIUM
POLYPODIUM
POLYPODIUM
POLYPODIUM
POLYPODIUM
POLYPODIUM
. Linncei Gen. PL C r y p t o g a m ia F i l i c e s .
Fruäific. in pun&is fubrotundis fparfis pei\ difcüm frondis.
Raii Syn. H e r ö ^e c a Fil l a r e s e t a f f in e s .
vulgare frondibus pinnatifidis: pinnis oblongis fiibferratis obtufis. Linn. Syfi.
Vegetab. p. 786. FL Suecic. p. 373.
foliis pinnatisj lanceölatis, radice fquamata. Haller hiß. n. i6g6.
vulgare. Scopoli Fl. CamioL tu 12661
vulgare. Bauhin. Pin. 350*
vulgare. Parkin/on 1030.
Gerard emac. 1138. Raii Syn. p. 117, Polypody; Hildfon Ft. Angl. p. 387;
RADIX oblique fub terras fperficie reptat, fibras fuas $
ex tuberculis quibus plurimis fcatetdemittens, $
ad craffitudinem fere minimi digiti accedens, 0
fquamis fufcis te&a, colore foris buxea, a
intus fere herbacea, fapore dulci, tandem ?
- acerbo et adftringente. x
STIPITES laeves, interne fulcati.
ROOT creeps obliquely under the furface of the earth*
fending forth a number o f fibres from little
tubercles, which are plentifully diftributed
Over its furface* about the thicknefs of the
little finger, fometimes flenderer, covered
with brown molfy fcales, externally o f a pale
yellow colour, internally greenilh* o f a tafte at
firft fweet, but finally fourifh and aftringent;
STALK S fmooth, grooved on the inner fide.
FRONDES femipedales aut pedales, pinnatifidas, | LEAVES from half a foot to a foot in length, pin-
pinnae oblongae, fubferratae, obtufas, inferne f natifid ; the pinnse oblong, flightly ferrated,
pallidiores. ■> ^ obtiife* palifh underneath;
---- - — «avio, luiuuuu, X >
nervo utrmque feriatim locatae, pedicellatae, $
fubrotundae, fuperficie granulata a feminibus |
protuberantibus, annulo elaftico brevi in- $
itruftae, in valvulas duas dehifcentes, fig.. 2, $
3. 4. 5» 6. $
of the leaf, in large, yellow, round dots,
{landing on foot-ftaIks, o f a roundilll (hape,
with the furface granulated from the feeds
protuberating, furniihed with a Ihort elallic
fpring. and opening into two valves, fig. 2.
3. 4. 5> S- I
SEMINA plurima, ovata, aut fubreniformia flava, 4 SEEDS numerous, oval or fomewhat kidney-fhaped
fig - 7 ,8 . V • o f a f vyeellllnoww rcnollnonurr, fig. ^7 , S8i . ‘
In all thofe plants of the Fern Tribe which I have hitherto had an opportunity o f examining, there appears
to be much the fame mechanifm in their parts o f fruflification ; one of the moll ftriking and ufeful of which,
is the elallic ring which furrounds the Capfules, .by means o f which they are forced open, and the feeds dif-
charged. So necelfary a part one (liould not conceive would be wanting in any o f thefe plants, nor will it
I believe, be found to be fo: yet many Botanifts, and thofe too of eminence, not only deny its exiftenee’
but make the want o f it a charafter to diftinguifh this Genus. G leditch gives us the following as part of
the generic charafier of the Polypodium “ Capfula annulo defiitutee.” A danson alfo gives it the fame cha-
! * ' ■ “ ƒ“ anneau." It will, perhaps, not be difficult to account for this miflake ; and, at the fame time
it will (hew us how injurious it is to fcience, for Authors to take things for granted without examining for
themfelves. In T ournefort’s elegant figures of the Genera, the Capfules of the Polypodium are reprefented
without any ring : on the truth of thefe figures, it is highly probable, that thofe Authors have relied ; for had
they made ufe o f their own eyes, affifted by a fmall magnifier, they could not have avoided feeing ’what
M a l p i g h i long before their time delineated, though rudely, and G l e i c h e n fince more elegantly figured.
There is one circumllance attending this fpecies o f Polypodium, which however does not run" through the
whole o f this Genus, viz. the want of an Involucrum or Membrane ; the little dots or affemblage of Capfules
are not covered with any membrane ; or if there be a membrane, it is very early deciduous, and not vifible
when the Capfules have arrived at a tolerable degree o f maturity.
This fpecies o f Polypody grows very common in woods and fhady lanes on the old Humps of various trees ■
It differs much in fize: fometimes it occurs on the Oak, in which cafe its virtue, as a medicine has been
more celebrated. ' r .' * ' * .
Ls e ffe a s, when taken inwardly, are flightly purgative : it has been recommended in various diforders of
the Vifcera, in the Cachexy, fwelling of the Spleen, Jaundice, obfiruftionsof the Mefenteric Glands, Hypochondriac
Difeafe, Cough, Afthma, &c. but it has generally been given with fome other medicines.
In the prefent praflice it is but little regarded.