THE BRACKEN. 73 



of umbrella fern refers to the spreading character of the 

 fronds, and oak fern is another allusion to the appearance 

 of a cross section of the stem. In Arkansas it is reported 

 to be called upland fern. The word bracken forms part 

 of many English surnames, and fern, farn and fearn, 

 probably referring to the same species form part of as 

 many more. 



The superstitions that cluster about the bracken are 

 very numerous. A cross section of the stem presents a 

 curious arrangement of the vascular tissues which some 

 have likened to the letter C. Accordingly the plant was 

 supposed to be good to protect one from goblins and 

 witches " because it bears the initial of 

 Christ upon its root." The " canny 

 Scot," on the other hand, sees in this sec- 

 tion the mark of the devil's hoof. The 

 appearance may also be fancied to resem- 

 ble an oak tree and is frequently called 

 " King Charles in the Oak." One an- 

 cient writer says, " If you cut the root of 

 the bracken slantwise you will see the 

 picture of an oak tree. The more per- "KING CHARLES 

 feet the representation, the more lucky IN THE OAK." 

 you will be." By others the arrangement was held to 

 form the initial of one's sweetheart. 



The smoke from burning ferns also had its virtues. 

 Parkinson says, " The fume of feme being burned, driv- 

 eth away serpents, gnats and other noisome creatures " 

 and that "the sent of it is very gratefull to the braine." 

 In the seventeenth century it was customary to burn 

 the bracken when rain was needed. It is said there is 

 still in existence a letter from an early English king, who, 

 desirous of having fine weather during his visit to Staf- 



