According to old almanacs, today’s Plant was the Flowering fern. Here are 10 things you might not know about ferns:
Flowering fern is actually a misnomer as ferns do not have Flowers or seeds, but reproduce by means of spores from sporangia on the undersides of the fronds. These are distributed by the wind or on the fur of passing animals.
The flowering fern is also known as the royal fern. It’s native to Europe, Africa and Asia, growing in woodland bogs and on the banks of streams. It is called the flowering fern because its fertile fronds resemble flowers.
In Slavic folklore, ferns are said to bloom on one night a year, midsummer. Anyone who manages to find a fern blossom guaranteed to be happy and rich for the rest of their life, or are guided to hidden treasure.
In Wicca, a dried fern can be thrown into a fire to exorcise evil spirits, or smoke from a burning fern is thought to drive away Snakes. There’s also a myth that eating ferns can bestow the power of invisibility.
Only many species of fern, like bracken, one of the most common ferns, are toxic, so don’t try that at home.
The smallest fern in the world grows in water and is called Azolla Cristata and usually grows from 1/5 to 2/3 inches (0.5 to 1.5) cm. In Asia, it is specially grown and used as an effective fertilizer for Rice fields.
The largest ferns are like trees. Dixonia Antarctica is native to Tasmania, Australia (not Antarctica as that’s the only place on Earth where you won’t find any ferns). They can grow up to 15 meters and have a trunk up to 2 meters in diameter.
The study of ferns is called pteridology.
Ferns have been around for millions of years and pre-date the Dinosaurs. In fact, when the dinosaurs came along, the herbivore varieties would dine on ferns.
The fern is a symbol of New Zealand.
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