Map

plant

Fern

Nature

Fern as a plant people have named and used. Shade lace, ancient frond, soft unfold — one living kind, not a single symbol.

  • Fern is used in Medicine.

    Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica lists fern (pteris and related) among root drugs used against worms and as astringents. A named fern in that handbook, not a fairy-invisible dump and not moss as a separate growth form.

    from Pedanius Dioscorides · De Materia Medica, 1st century CE

    used in · sourced · documented

  • Fern is historically related to Ash.

    In Ure’s Dictionary, cupels are formed from moistened bone ashes mixed with fern ashes beat down in the test-frame — fern yields that ash for the cupel.

    from Andrew Ure · Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, 1839 (and later PD editions)

    historically related to · sourced · documented

  • Midsummer is used in Fern.

    In Culpeper’s English Physician, fern seed is to be had upon Midsummer eve and a day or two after — Midsummer eve is the gathering window for that fern seed.

    from Nicholas Culpeper · The English Physician, 1652 (and later PD editions)

    used in · sourced · documented

Roman religion

  • Fern appears in Roman religion.

    Pliny’s Natural History seats ferns among frond plants of the botanical books. A named fern in that encyclopedia, not moss as soft packing growth and not a fairy-folklore dump.

    from Pliny the Elder · Natural History, c. 77 CE

    appears in · sourced · documented

sources