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This fern is only known in the Highlands by cultivation. This 

 name is frequently given to Trichomanes (dubh chasach) impro. 

 perly. Manx : folt voidyn, maiden hair. In the Catholic Church 

 the fern is known as "The Virgin's Hair." 



Ophioglossum — From Greek: 6'</>is, a serpent: and kydxraa, a 

 tongue. The little fertile stalk springing straight out of the grass 

 may not inaptly be compared to a snake's tongue. 



0. vulgatum — Adder's tongue. Lus na nathrach (Mackenzie), 

 the serpent's weed. Teanga na ?iatkrach, the adder's tongue. 

 Welsh : tafad y neidr, adder's tongue. In the Western Highlands, 

 beasan or feasan (Stewart). 



Osmunda — Osmunder, in Northern mythology, was one of the 

 sons of Thor (Gaelic : Tordan), the thunderer, the Jove of the 

 Celts. " This stately flowering fern is said to derive its name 

 from the following legend : — A waterman named Osmund once 

 dwelt on the banks of Loch Fyne, with his wife and daughter. 

 One day a band of fugitives burst into his cottage, and warned 

 Osmund that the cruel Danes were fast approaching the ferry- 

 Osmund heard them with fear ; he trembled for those he held 

 dearer than life. Suddenly the shouts of furious men roused him 

 to action. Snatching up his oars, he rowed his wife and child 

 to a small island covered with this fern, and helping them to land, 

 he bade them lie down beneath the foliage for protection. Scarcely 

 had the ferryman returned to his cottage ere a company of fierce 

 Danes rushed in, but knowing he would be of service to them, 

 they did him no harm. He then ferried them across the lake. 

 Osmund thanked God for preserving them all, but the daughter 

 •ever after called the fern "Osmund" (Folkard's Plant Legends). 

 Gerard, in describing the stem of the Osmunda, which, upon being 

 cut, exhibits a white centre, calls this portion of the fern "the 

 heart of Osmund, the waterman," probably in allusion to the above 

 tradition. 



0. regalis — Royal fern. Gaelic : raineach rioghail, kingly fern ; 

 righ raineach, royal fern. In Ireland it is called the "bog onion." 

 Bog uinnean. Manx: bog uinnish or bog rent's A. 



Botrychium lunaria — Moonwort. Gaelic : luan lus, moonwort. 

 Manx: lus htna, Welsh: y l/eiladlrs — lleuad, moon. Luan, the 



