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 | Fern (Royal) Other Names: Osmund the Waterman. Heart of Osmund. Water Fern. Bog Onion
Botanical Name: Osmunda regalis
Family: N.O. Filices |
Description: |
The Royal Fern grows abundantly in some parts of Great Britain, chiefly in the western counties of England and Scotland, and in Wales and the west of Ireland. It needs a soil of bog earth and is incorrectly styled the 'Flowering Fern,' from the handsome spikes of fructification. One of its old English names is Osmund the Waterman, and the white centres of its roots have been called the 'Heart of Osmund.'
There is a legend that the wife and daughter of Osmund, a waterman of Loch Tyne, took refuge among Osmundes during an invasion of the Danes.
Osmund is a Saxon word for domestic peace, from os (hoise) and mund (peace).
By some the name Osmunda is said to be derived from the god Thor (Osmunda). Others have traced its derivation from os (a bone) and mundare (to cleanse), in reference to the medicinal uses of the Fern.
The Fern is dedicated to St. Christopher.
The rootstock is tuberous, large and lobed, densely clothed with matted fibres, often forming a trunk rising perceptibly from the ground, sometimes to the height of a foot or more. It is manyheaded and sends up tufts of fronds, the brown stems of which are cane-like, very tough and wiry, varying from 2 to 3 feet in drier situations, to from 8 to 10 feet in damp, sheltered places when very luxuriant. It is the tallest of our British ferns.
The fronds are twice pinnate, the pinnae far apart, mostly opposite, the pinnules undivided, narrow and oblong, slightly tapering to their apex, smooth, very short-stalked. When young, they are of a very delicate texture and of a reddish colour, changing afterwards to a dull green. The fronds are divided into fertile and barren. The barren fronds are entirely leafy, the fertile fronds are terminated by long, branched spikes of fructification, composed of bunches of clustered thecae or spore cases, green when young and ripening into brown, not covered by an indusium. These fertile fronds are developed in April.
This handsome Fern is easy of cultivation and hardy, and is best transplanted when large. |
Medicinal Usage: |
A decoction of the root is of good effect in the cure of jaundice, when taken in its early stages, and for removing obstructions of the viscera. The roots may also be made into an ointment for application to wounds, bruises and dislocations, the young fronds being likewise thought 'good to be put into balms, oyls and healing plasters.' A conserve of the root was used for rickets. Gerard says, drawing his information from Dodonaeus and other older herbalists:
'The root and especially the heart or middle thereof, boiled or else stamped and taken with some kinde of liquor, is thought to be good for those that are wounded, drybeaten and bruised, that have fallen from some high place.'
And Culpepper says:
'This has all the virtues mentioned in the former Ferns, and is much more effectual than they, both for inward and outward griefs: and is accounted singularly good in wounds, bruises or the like: the decoction to be drunk or boiled into an ointment of oil, as a balsam or balm, and so it is singularly good against bruises and bones broken or out of joint, and gives much ease to the colic and splenetic diseases: as also for ruptures and burstings.'
It has been recommended for lumbago. |
Ancient Lore: |
FERN (Royal) OSMUNDA REGALIS
Singularly good in wounds, bruises, or the like.
This is the largest of the English ferns. It has several large, branched leaves with light yellowish-green pinnulac.
Where to find it: Moors, bogs and watery places.
Flowering time: It flowers not, being a fern, but is green all summer.
Astrology: Saturn owns the plant.
Medicinal virtues: It is much more effectual than other ferns, both for inward and outward uses. The decoction may be drunk or boiled into an ointment with oil, as a balsam or balm. It is good against bruises and bones broken or out of joint. It also gives much ease to the colic and splenetic diseases, ruptures and burstings.
Modern uses: The powdered roots may be made into an ointment by boiling in wax and straining and used for cuts and bruises. This is also a useful application for lumbago. Ointments made from Comfrey or Marigold are generally more popular at present
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