Old World Royal Fern

Appearance

''Osmunda regalis'' is a deciduous, herbaceous plant which produces separate fertile and sterile fronds. The sterile fronds are spreading, 60-160 cm tall and 30-40 cm broad, bipinnate, with 7-9 pairs of pinnae up to 30 cm long, each pinna with 7-13 pairs of pinnules 2.5-6.5 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The fertile fronds are erect and shorter, 20-50 cm tall, usually with 2-3 pairs of sterile pinnae at the base, and 7-14 pairs of fertile pinnae above bearing the densely-clustered sporangia.

The "Royal" name derives from its being one of the largest and most imposing European ferns. In many areas, it has become rare as a result of wetland drainage for agriculture.

Naming

There are three very similar species, ''Osmunda spectabilis'', ''Osmunda lancea'' and ''Osmunda japonica''. Recent genetic analysis has shown that the New World varieties are in a clade that is sister to the Old World varieties of ''Osmunda regalis''. If this is true, then ''O. lancea'' and ''O. japonica'' should either be regarded as varieties of ''O. regalis'', or, conversely, ''O. regalis var. spectabilis'' should be regarded as a separate species, ''Osmunda spectabilis'' Willdenow. The var. ''brasiliensis'' would then be ''Osmunda spectabilis'' Willdenow var. ''brasiliensis'' Hooker & Greville.

Uses

The roots, along with those of other species of ''Osmunda'', are used for the production of osmunda fibre, used as a growing medium for cultivated orchids and other epiphytic plants.

According to Slavic mythology, the sporangia, called "Perun's flowers", have assorted magical powers, such as giving their holders the ability to defeat demons, fulfill wishes, unlock secrets, and understand the language of trees. However, collecting the sporangia is a difficult and frightening process. In earlier traditions, they must be collected on Kupala night; later, after the arrival of Christianity, the date is changed to Easter eve. Either way, the person wanting to collect Perun's flowers must stand within a circle drawn around the plant and withstand the taunting or threats of demons.

Seasoned Royal Fern is also used in the dish Namul in Korean royal court cuisine.

The young shoots of the fern are, along with the similar shoots of many other fern species, known in some places as fiddleheads, and eaten as food, thought to have an asparagus-like taste.