The Collaborative International Dictionary
male fern
male fern \male fern\ n. A fern of North America and Europe ( Dryopteris filix-mas) whose rhizomes and stalks yield an oleoresin used to expel tapeworms. It is a member of the woodfern genus.
Wiktionary
male fern
n. (taxlink Dryopteris filix-mas species noshow=1), from which is derived a vermifuge preparation.
WordNet
male fern
n. fern of North America and Europe whose rhizomes and stalks yield an oleoresin used to expel tapeworms [syn: Dryopteris filix-mas]
Usage examples of "male fern".
The rootstock is similar to Male Fern, but there are differences in the number of wood bundles in the stems, also in the hairs on the margins of the leaf-stalk scales.
Slippery Elm mucilage is also prescribed to be mixed with Oil of Male Fern (2 oz.