Adiantum.
Botanical name:
Adiantum. Maidenhair.—Tradition has attributed to various species of this genus of ferns valuable properties in chronic pulmonic catarrhs. A. pedatum, L., of America, A. Capillus-Veneris, L., of Europe, A. lunulatum Burm., of India, are the most important of these alleged medicinal species. The European species is sometimes employed on the Continent as an emmenagogue under the name of polytrichi, polytrichon, or kalliphyllon, and is given in the form of infusion, sweetened with sugar or honey, and a syrup prepared from it is said to be popular in France under the name of sirop de capillaire, and is official in the French Codex.
