The Description.

            1. The leaves of Polypody might be thought to be like those of male Fern, but that they are far lesser, and not nicked at all in the edges: these do presently spring up from the roots, being cut on both the edges with many deep gashes, even hard to the middle rib; on the upper side they are smooth, on the nether side they are lightly powdered as it were with dusty marks: the root is long, not a finger thick, creeping aslope, on which are seen certain little buttons like to those pits and dents that appear in the tails of cuttle fishes: this hath in it a certain sweetness, with a taste something harsh: this kind of Fern likewisec wanteth not only flowers and seed, but stalks also.

            2. Polypody of the Oak is much like unto that of the wall, yet the leaves of it are more finely cut, smooth on the upper side, of a pale green colour, together with the stalks and middle ribs; on the nether side rough like those of Fern: this Fern also liveth without a stalk; it groweth without seed: the root hath many strings fastened to it, one folded within another, of a mean bigness, and sweet in taste: it sendeth forth here and there new dodkins or springs, whereby it increaseth.

Fig. 1617. Indian Polypody (3)

            3. Clusius in his Exotics, lib. 4. cap. 7, gives us the history of an Indian Fern or Polypody found amongst the papers of one Dr. Nicholas Colie a Dutch physician, who died in his return from the East Indies. The root of it was six inches long, and almost one thick, of the same shape and colour as the ordinary one is: from this came up three leaves, of which the third was lesser than the other two; the two larger were eleven inches long, and their breadth from the middle rib (which was very large) was on each side almost five inches; the edges were divided almost like an oaken case: from the middle rib came other veins that ran to the ends of the divisions, and between these be smaller veins variously divaricated and netted, which made the leaf show prettily.. The colour of it was like that of a dry oaken leaf. Where Dr Colie gathered this it was uncertain, for he had left nothing in writing.

The Place.

            It groweth on the bodies of old rotten trees, and also upon old walls, and the tops of houses: it is likewise found among rubbish near the borders of fields, especially under trees and thorns, and now and then in woods: and in some places it groweth rank and with a broader leaf, in others not so rank, and with a narrower leaf.

            That which groweth on the bodies of old Oaks is preferred before the rest; instead of this most do use that which is found under the Oaks, which for all that is not to be termed Quercinum, or Polypody of the Oak.

The Time.

            Polypody is green all the year long, and may be gathered at any time; it bringeth forth new leaves in the first spring.

The Names.

            The Grecians call it Polypodion, of the holes of the fishes Polypi, appearing in the roots: it is called in Latin, Polypodium, after the Greek name, and many times Filicula, as though they should say Parva Filix or little Fern: the Italians name it, Polipodio: the Spaniards, Filipodio, and Polypodio: in High Dutch, Engelfusz, Baumfarn, Dropffoourtz: in low Dutch, Boom Varen: in French, Polypode: and we of England, Polypody: that which groweth upon the wall we call Polypody of the wall, and that on the Oak, Polypody of the Oak.

The Temperature.

            Polypody doth dry, but yet without biting, as Galen writeth.

The Virtues.

            A. Dioscorides writeth, that it is of power to purge and to draw forth choler and phlegm. Clusius addeth, that it likewise purgeth melancholy: other suppose it to be without any purging force at all, or else to have very little: of the same mind is also Iohannes Monardus who thinketh it purgeth very gently; which thing is confirmed by experience, the mistress of things. For in very deed Polypody of itself doth nor purge at all, but only serveth a little to make the belly soluble, being boiled in the broth of an old cock; with Beets or Mallows, or other like things that move to the stool by their slipperiness. Iohannes Mesue reckoneth up Polypody among those things that do especially dry and make thin: peradventure he had respect to a certain kind of arthritis, or ache in the joints: in which not one only part of the body, but many together most commonly are touched: for which it is very much commended by the Brabanters and other inhabitants about the River Rhine, and the Maas. In this kind of disease the hands, the feet, and the joints of the knees and elbows do swell. There is joined withal a feebleness in moving, through the extremity of the pain: sometimes the upper parts are less grieved, and the lower more. The humours do also easily run from one place to another, and then settle. Against this disease the Guelders and Clevelanders do use the decotion of Polypody, whereby they hope that the superfluous humours may be wasted and dried up, and that not by and by, but in continuance of time: for they appoint that this decoction should be taken for certain days together.

            B. But this kind of gout is sooner taken away either by blood letting, or by purgations, or by both, and afterwards by sweat; neither is it hard to be cured if these general remedies be used in time: for the humours do not remain fixed in those joints, but are rather gathered together than settled about them.

            C. Therefore the body must out of hand be purged, and then that which remaineth is to be wasted and consumed away by such things as procure sweat.

            D. Furthermore, Dioscorides saith, that the root of Polypody is very good for members out of joint, and for chaps between the fingers.

            E. The root of Polypody boiled with a little honey, water, and pepper, and the quantity of an ounce given, emptieth the belly of choleric and pituitous humours; some boil it in water and wine, and give thereof to the quantity of three ounces for some purposes with good success.