How was Osmund the waterman used?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 19, 2002

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Killer Savings: Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Lady Fern, Ostrich Plume Fern, Shining Light Toad Lily—>Click here.

Dwarf Red Hardy Azalea, 'Magic Carpet' Thyme, Hardy Hosta Collection—>Click here.

The royal fern (Osmunda regalis Linnaeus) is an ancient species found in bogs and swamps in Africa, Eurasia, and North and South America. The botanical name predates Linnaeus; it was known to herbalists by its present name and commonly called Osmund the
advertisement

Flowering Shade Garden — Enjoy the beauty of Ferns, Hostas, and shade-loving flowers at special savings.

Includes 1 each of; Golden Tiara Hosta, Royal Standard Hosta, Green and White Hosta, White Edged Hosta, Blue Hosta, Brise d'Anjou Polemonium; 3 each of Ostrich Plume Fern, Lady Fern, Hardy Cyclamen, Pink Dwarf Bleeding Hearts and 6 Lily-of-the-Valley. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

waterman.

When John Gerard (The Herbal) wrote of the royal fern habitat in 1597, he alluded to a legend, "It groweth in the midst of a bog at the further end of Hampsted heath from London...as also upon diverse bogges on a heath or common neere unto Bruntwood in Essex, especially neere unto a place there that some have digged, to the end to finde a nest or mine of gold: but the birds were over fledge, and flowne away before their wings could be clipped."

Gerard offered no clarification about the "nest of gold", but Thomas Johnson reported the extirpation (local extinction) of the royal fern in the 1633 edition, "It did grow plentifully in both these places, but of late it is all destroyed in the former (Hampstead Heath)". Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) reports that starch extracted from the rhizome was used to stiffen linen. This use may have led to its loss.

Gerard recommended, "The root, and especially the heart or middle part thereof, boiled or else stamped, and taken with some kinde of liquor, is thought to be good for those that are wounded, dry-beaten, and bruised; that have fallen from some high place...of so great a virtue, as that it can dissolve cluttered bloud remaining in any inward part of the body....The tender sprigs...at their first coming forth are excellent...to be put into balmes, oyles...or healing plaisters..appropriate unto wounds, punctures, and such like."

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.has great photographs showing the unique fronds found on the royal fern. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/regalis.html

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Hardy Hosta Collection

Springhill Nursery®

Every garden has a shady spot that can be enhanced by elegant, easy-to-grow and extremely hardy hostas. Hostas offer lush, richly colored foliage that lends a cool, soothing feel to areas under large trees or shrubs.

In the summer, tall-flowering stems with delicate pastel lavender or white bells give off a lovely scent. The foliage is attractive from spring right up until the hard frosts of fall.

This collection includes one each of the following varieties:

Gold Standard Hosta - Leaves grow 24" tall and emerge light green with a dark edge in the spring. Centers turn gold by midsummer, when pale lavender flowers bloom on 36" stems. Spreads 30".
Royal Standard Hosta - Magnificent shiny leaves grow 18-24" tall, sporting 24-30" stems with sweetly scented white flowers in late summer. Super-hardy shade lover spreads 4'.
Green & White Hosta - Stunning, rich leaves variegated with green and white grow 15-20" tall. Sweet-smelling lilac bells appear on 26-32" stems in midsummer. Spreads 18-24".
Krossa Regal Hosta - One of the tallest growing varieties, its lush, elegant blue-green foliage grows to 3' tall and spreads 3-4'. Lavender blooms appear on 5-6' spires in mid to late summer.
Gold Edged Hosta - Plant this exceptionally tolerant variety anywhere. Large, dark green, 18-24" tall foliage is set off by distinctive golden borders. Spreads 24-36" . Enjoy lovely lilac flowers on 36" stems in midsummer.
Blue Hosta - Ovate to heart-shaped blue-green leaves form impressive 18-24" mounds and spread 30-36". Pale lavender flowers appear in late summer on 30-36" tall spires. An excellent contrast to the other varieties in our collection.

With every collection ordered, receive three Dwarf Bleeding Hearts absolutely FREE! The perfect garden companion to your hostas! Luscious pink pendant heart-shaped flowers bloom from spring through early summer and again as the weather cools in fall. Grows 15-18" tall, spreads 12-18".

#1 field grown plants.

One collection includes nine plants (including bonus)! Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Garden Perennials!]