Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/643
the Scythian Lamb of old writers, of which such marvellous stories were told.
1366. Cibotium glaucum, Hook, et Am. ;* C. Chamissoi, Kaulf.; C. Menziesii, Hook. "Pulu." All these, if really distinct, are natives of the Sandwich Islands, and yield the substance called " Pulu" which is the silky hair found clothing the rhizome and lower portion of the stalk or stipes. It has been recommended as a styptic. For further particulars, consult ' Pharmaceutical Journal,' Series 2, Vol. I. p. 501.
1367. Davallia tenuifolia, Sw.† In the Mauritius this forms the basis of the compound remedies used by empirics for tambave, and is often administered internally in decoction without any admixture, and also in the form of a lotion and bath.
1368. Helminthostachys Dulcis, Kaulf.‡ This fern, Dr. Lindley states, is regarded in the Moluccas as a slight aperient ; it is used as a pot-herb, and its young shoots as asparagus.
1369. Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn.§ " Adder's-tongue." " The leaves of adder's-tongue," writes Gerarde, " stamped in a stone mortar, and boiled in oyle olive unto the consumption of the juice, and until the herbes be dry and parched, and then strained, will yield a most excellent greene oyle, or rather a balsame for greene wounds, comparable to oile of St. John's wort, if it do not farre surpasse it by many degrees ; whose beauty is such that very many artists have thought the same to be mixed with verdigrease.
"For them that are with newts or snakes or adders stung.
He seeking out an herb that's called adder's-tongue,
As nature it ordain'd its own like hurt to cure,
And sportive did herself to niceties inure."
1370. Osmunda regalis, Linn.ǁ" Royal Fern." A native of Europe. The rhizome was formerly employed medicinally, but seems to be of little or no value. It is affirmed to be tonic and styptic, and to have been serviceable in cases of rachitis.
1371. Pteris aquilina, Linn¶. " Common Bracken." Native of Europe. The rhizome is said to be astringent and anthelminitic. Lindley says that it has been used with some success as a substitute for hops. Its esculent qualities must be very poor, although it is said to be sometimes eaten. The ancients used rhizomes and fronds, in decoction, in chronic disorders arising from obstructions of the viscera and spleen. It is sometimes employed abroad in dressing and preparing kid and chamois leather
Undetermined Indian Ferns. Several ferns products employed in India have been enumerated, but at present without accurate identification. Amongst these are " Iskoolikundrion," a species of Scolopendrium ; " Doonditarus," a species of Dryopteris ; "Surkhus " or " Bitarus," probably a species of Pteris ; and " Bisfaij " or " Bulookunbood," which is referred to a species of Polypodium."
- Ref. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind p. 24
- † Ref. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind p. 70
- ‡ Ref. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind p. 467
- § Ref. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind p. 464
- ǁ Ref. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind p. 450
- ¶ Ref. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind p. 115