Royal fern
From Freepedia
| Royal Fern | ||||||||||||||
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| Image:OsmundaRegalis.jpg Osmunda regalis | ||||||||||||||
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| Osmunda regalis L. |
Royal fern, Osmunda regalis, belongs to the oxymoronically named flowering fern family, so called because the densely-clustered sporangia resemble flowers. It is said by some to be one of the most handsome European ferns, hence the name. It is widely distributed in Europe, Asia and North America.
According to Slavic mythology, the sporangia - called "Perun's flowers" - have assorted magical powers, such as giving their holders the ability to defeat demons, fulfill wishes, unlock secrets, and understand the language of trees. However, collecting the sporangia is a difficult and frightening process. In earlier traditions, they must be collected on Kupala night; later, after the arrival of Christianity, the date is changed to Easter eve. Either way, the person wanting to collect Perun's flowers must stand within a circle drawn around the plant and withstand the taunting or threats of demons.
