Why don't ferns bloom? Does the fern actually bloom? Botanical description of the culture
The fern flower is considered mythical, since the plant is not capable of blooming. Fern belongs to fern-like plants that reproduce by means of spores. However, the ancient Slavic belief is widespread, due to which some people do not doubt whether the fern actually blooms. Many people are interested in what a fern looks like and how to find a fern flower.
Description of the plant
Fern is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Osmundaceae family, genus Fernaceae. The homeland of the plant is Northern China, Korea, and the Far Eastern Russian region. Distributed in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, and Central Asia. It is a green stem with numerous feathery dissected leaves. The fern reproduces only through spores and does not bloom.
Interesting. Ferns are considered one of the most ancient plants on the planet, which appeared in the Devonian period of the Paleozoic era. The wood of the plant later became a source of coal.
It is believed that this plant is a descendant of the first plants on the planet - rhinophytes. Their branches gradually turned into leaves, and the spores moved from the end of the branches to the underside of the leaf. The process of spore emergence and maturation is very similar to flower growth. The plant is collected all summer.
Today there are thousands of species of ferns.
Fern structure, flowering
The fern trunk is smooth and has no scales. Root system powerful. The root is a creeping root; buds are formed on it, from which young shoots are formed. Stepchildren appear from the ground at a distance of 10 to 20 cm. Initially, they have a snail-like head, which gradually turns into leaves.
Fern blossom
Sporulation is the main method of fern propagation. Controversy grows on back side leaf. As the spore capsule matures, it cracks and the spores scatter in the wind. As soon as they get to a favorable fertile soil, they begin to grow.
During the growth of the spore, a prothallus is formed in the form of a small green cup. Sperm and eggs appear on the reverse side of the growth. After fertilization of the egg, germination of the seed begins, and the stepson begins to take root. The fern forms a bush over several years. Fern blossoms are impossible.
Maybe vegetative propagation fern. At the same time, long arrows are formed on the bush. They bend down to the kidney and are pressed down by the stone. Such reproduction is also carried out by humans in the garden or summer cottage. The arrow takes root in the ground. For replanting, a fragment of earth is dug up along with the root system.
Transfer
Ferns also reproduce by division. Early spring it must be removed from the ground. Dense roots are washed from the ground with water, divided into shoots, which are then transplanted to another area.
What is called leaves in everyday use is called fronds in science. They are able to grow in length for a long time. Fronds take an active part in photosynthesis and plant reproduction.
The bark of the stems acts as a support. Ferns do not have a cambium, so they are fragile. Compared to angiosperms, they have much weaker conducting tissues.
The structure of the fern is very different, depending on the species. There are short ones herbaceous plants, there are also large ferns that resemble trees. Some ferns reach a height of 20 m. Moreover, the tree trunk forms branched and fairly strong adventitious roots.
Large ferns that resemble trees.
Legends about the blooming fern
The most common legend says that on the night of Ivan Kupala (July 6-7), ferns bloom in the dense forest. A blooming fern appears at the stroke of midnight as a blooming ember. Moreover, at this time it opens with a bang, illuminates the clearing with a wonderful color and makes an unusual sound.
A person who manages to master such a flower becomes subject to everything. secret knowledge. He can have access to all the secret treasures located in the ground. But not everyone can get such a flower. It is located in the deepest part of the forest. To get to it, you need to overcome the fear of the evil spirits that gather in the clearing. If a person gets scared or, even worse, looks back at the faces of the demons, then he will not see any flower.
This beautiful legend has some basis. There are very rare species of fern that produce stems that look like bright flowers. But these are not flowers, but elongated and modified leaves with buds, which are called “sporangia”.
Sporangia
Another belief says that at midnight a bud appears from a fern bush. She moves like a living bird. The movements occur because evil spirits are trying to hide the flower from human eyes. He grows like a hot coal.
The Carpathian version of the legend has a similar narrative. In this region there is a legend about a red flower - rue. Ruta has yellow flowers, but on the night of Ivan Kupala they suddenly change their color to red. This happens at night and the red color doesn't last very long. If a girl was able, despite her fear of evil spirits, to look and pick such a flower, then she will be able to bewitch anyone with her charms. young man. This same flower will be a real proof of love and will look beautiful.
There are interesting recommendations How to pick the color of a fern. To do this, you need to go into the forest on the evening before the holiday of Ivan Kupala, find a fern and spread a sacred tablecloth around it. This is the name of the tablecloth that was used during the period Holy Week, before Easter. You need to draw a circle around yourself using a knife, also consecrated during Holy Week. Next, you need to read the plot and wait until midnight.
fern flower
You need to concentrate while waiting for fern flowers and not be distracted by extraneous sounds, because evil spirits begin to yell, scream and whistle. Otherwise, the fern may not bloom. It is forbidden to be online. There is a belief that if you respond to the sounds of evil spirits when the plant begins to bloom, you can die, because evil spirits rip off your head and send your soul straight to hell. Walking near a fern flowering site should be very careful.
Interesting. Having picked a fern flower, you need to hide it in your bosom and quickly run home without looking back. The meaning of this belief is interesting: if you perform actions as needed, evil spirits will not “stick” to a person.
Interesting properties of fern
IN folk beliefs this plant has magical properties. Since time immemorial, it has been used not only for magical rituals, but also for the treatment of many diseases:
- With the help of a flower obtained at midnight before Ivan Kupala, you can find treasures.
- To attract the groom, the girl weaves a branch of fern into her braids and wears him like that.
- To get rid of pain during radiculitis, you need to fill the mattress with leaves and branches of fern. The healing book claims that pain and inflammation will quickly go away.
- The root of this plant is used in magic against the evil eye. To do this, the crushed part of the root is added to various potions. Anyone who drinks this decoction will get rid of diseases caused by the “evil eye.” It can protect against diseases. The root helps with love spells and lapels, and removes the effect of any ritual that the person did not agree to perform.
- If you place a whole fern root over your home, it will protect the inhabitants of the house from negative energy. A sorcerer and any person with evil intentions cannot enter such a dwelling.
- To use fern as reliable means from the evil eye, you should wear it as close to your body as possible. To do this, the fern is dug up at dawn, washed, and placed in the sun to dry. It should be applied the next day.
- The root is used against gypsies. The plant helps maintain clarity of thought and will not allow a person to deceive himself when communicating with her.
Some peoples use fern for pickling. Prepared products with fern added to the brine have very interesting taste qualities.
A fern is a plant that never blooms due to the peculiarities of its structure. Of course, there are people who still believe that at midnight before the holiday in a dark and dense forest you can meet magic flower, and that the plant can bloom. There are many secrets and beliefs associated with the plant, each of which is beautiful and unique in its own way.
Who among us has not heard the legend about how, on the night of Ivan Kupala, the evil spirits go wild, crawling out in droves to protect the precious flower. How daredevils go into the forest to find a flower that will show the way to countless treasures. And what to hide, many of us also went looking for a fern flower - some as a joke, some out of curiosity, and some just as a bet. Has anyone actually seen him? We'll find out very soon.
Question of questions - do ferns bloom?
To find out whether it can or not, you must first figure out what kind of plant it is. So, fern belongs to the category of very rare species that simply do not have seeds. Fern reproduction occurs with the help of spores - sori located in the lower part of the plant.
The fern usually grows no more than a meter in height, but can be very small - up to 30 centimeters. Large scaly leaves of a pinnately complex type emerge from the top of the rhizome. They usually bend towards the ground, curling up in a snail-like manner. On the lowest leaves, spores mature, which then, at the slightest touch (or wind), spill out onto the ground, thereby giving life to new shoots of the fern.
What types of ferns are there?
To find out how a fern blooms, you need to get acquainted with its species. The plant can be used indoors - interesting carved leaves have no analogues among house plants for their decorative beauty. It can spread its leaves 70 centimeters from the trunk.
This species does not tolerate sunlight and likes its leaves to be frequently sprayed with plain water. Next view- Thai fern. This is great aquarium plant with bright green leaves complex shape. As a rule, this species does not grow more than 30 centimeters and is quite capricious - in addition to clean water, it requires heating in winter and cooling in summer. The fern is red, named after the color of its leaves. Indian and tropical species, tree-like, aquatic and forest species are known. It’s the latter that all sorts of legends are associated with.
forest fern
TO forest species Ferns include the following: leafy and bracken, multirow and shield, kochedednik and Forest varieties are distinguished by beautiful funnel-shaped rosettes of leaves. At the height of summer, the forest fern opens its leaves, becoming like green fountains. Do ferns bloom in the forest and why do people believe this? The fact is that the maturation of spores is somewhat similar to the flowering of a fern.
A common phenomenon is when a plant throws out thin leaves that look like small inflorescences - these are what are mistaken for small flowers. And in general, a plant that reproduces by spores cannot bloom - this is against all the rules of botany. Therefore, it is actually not possible to know when a fern blooms.
What does the legend say?
However, it is worth returning to our ancestors. It’s not for nothing that there are so many legends surrounding the color of fern. It was not for nothing that in Rus' boys and girls went into the dark and scary forest to find untold riches. They left and disappeared, because, according to legend, at this time (the night of Ivan Kupala) all the evil spirits woke up and were released into the wild, who tried with all their might to protect the fern flower. And just one glance back was enough to disappear forever, never reaching the cherished goal. Our ancestors knew when the fern blooms - one night a year, from July 6 to 7. There is also an opinion that not everyone opens a flower - it chooses only a select few.
Dozens of people can pass by him, and only one, even if he was not looking for him, will accidentally stumble upon his happiness. Although the color of the fern did not lead to happiness: again, returning to the legends, those who still managed to find a flowering branch, who managed to find out whether the ferns were blooming, sold their souls to the devil and eventually disappeared.
What do scientists say?
Probably, as long as people live, the debate about this mysterious plant will continue. Also in the villages, stories about missing people will be passed down from generation to generation, and there will also be brave souls who, on the cherished night, will go into the fern thickets for a magic flower. So how do you know if ferns are blooming? You can go to the forest yourself - according to legend, the fern blooms a few minutes before midnight, and at midnight its color, having gained full strength, disappears, as if plucked by an invisible hand. Or trust science. Are ferns blooming? The scientific answer is no. However, it is worth remembering that there are exceptions to everything. The ancestors believed that the fern opens a fiery red bud for loving hearts or for those ruled by the thirst for omnipotence. And it seems that scientists say out loud that spore plant cannot bloom. However, historians have now proven the existence of Baba Yaga. So maybe the next step would be introducing the fern flower to the world? Who knows...
The ancient Slavs had many beautiful legends, and a huge number have survived to this day. In one of the most popular, the central figure is a fern flower. Many people dream of finding it and plucking it, because it is believed that it can work miracles.
Fern flower - what is it?
The fern is one of the most ancient plants, and it grew at a time when dinosaurs walked the earth. The peculiarities of this plant include the presence of a large number of elongated leaves, which are collected in rosettes. They are often compared to bird feathers. Many people are interested in what a fern flower looks like, but scientists confirm that it is unrealistic to see the buds. If you look at the plant from below, you can see small dots brown, which can be mistaken for “flowers”.
Fern flower - myth or reality?
People do not stop believing in miracles, even if scientists prove that what is stated is unrealistic. Fern flower in Slavic mythology was of great importance, and every year a huge number of people dreamed of finding it. Science has found a very simple explanation for the “fairy tale.” According to legend, the plant glows during flowering, and scientists claim that many fireflies live in humid places where the fern grows. In addition, some plants in the forest produce poisonous fumes that cause hallucinations, and a person can imagine anything.
The Legend of the Fern Flower
Since ancient times, a beautiful story has come down to us, the main character of which was the guardian of the sun and the brother of Perun. One day he fell in love with the Swimsuit, the gentle goddess of the night, who seemed very inaccessible, but she responded to the young man’s feelings. The problem was that Semargl had to constantly be on his solar throne, and the Swimsuit was the ruler of the night.
The lovers could not resist their feelings, and on June 21 (old style) they merged together, and this day was recognized as the summer equinox. After some time, the couple had two children, who were named Kostroma and Kupala. Perun decided to give a gift to his brother and in honor of the birth of his nephews, he presented them with good luck, which had enormous power.
How to find a fern flower?
According to legends, at exactly midnight on Ivan Kupala, a magical fiery red flower literally blooms for a moment, shining so brightly that not every person can withstand its glow. When people are looking for a fern flower, they must read prayers and be sure to believe in miracles. It is believed that the one who can find and rip it off will have enormous power, and he will be able to see all the hidden treasures and open any doors, hence another name - “grass gap”.
It was difficult to find a fern flower because on Kupala night the plant is guarded by spirits who pluck it immediately after the bud opens. If a person managed to get a flower, then he would face trials and tests from evil spirits. One version states that the fern should remain in its place until the morning, until the demons go home. It is interesting that N. Gogol’s story “The Night on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” talks about the flowering of a fern.
When does the fern flower bloom?
According to legend, you can see a miracle, that is, the flowering of a fern, only once a year - on the night of June 23-24 (according to the new style - July 6-7). In ancient times, on this day the Slavs glorified Dazhdbog, and a few years later Orthodox Church turned a pagan celebration into a Christian holiday. Since then, believers on this day remember St. John the Baptist or Ivana Kupala. It is worth noting that according to one version, a fern flower is a miracle that can only be seen once every hundred years.
Where to look for a fern flower?
The plant loves damp and warm places, so you need to go searching for it in lakes, rivers and swamps. It is rare, but you can see ferns in meadows. It should be taken into account that magic flower hidden from people, so it is very difficult to find it, and you will have to go into a deep forest where there are no others who want to get magical powers. It has already been mentioned why they look for a fern flower, so you need to remember about competitors trying to become rich.
How to pick a fern flower?
When deciding to go in search of a miracle flower, you must take a knife and a tablecloth with you. white. There are several rules regarding how to pick a fern:
- If luck smiled and you managed to make sure that the fern flower exists, then you need to sit next to it, spread the tablecloth and draw a protective circle around you and the plant.
- It is important to position yourself next to the flower on the north side. Concentrate on the plant and don't be distracted by other thoughts or sounds.
- At midnight there will be a feeling that invisible forces want to attack, frightening screams will be heard and shadows will appear. It is necessary to pass the test and under no circumstances leave the drawn protective circle.
- Walk around the fern flower three times, saying the words of any prayer, for example, “Our Father.” After this, quickly pick the flower and cover it with the prepared tablecloth and run home. Do not turn around under any circumstances, because if you break this rule, you may lose the “fern flower” amulet. In addition, there is a legend that dark forces can take your soul with them.
What to do with a fern flower?
It remains to figure out what to do with the flower to get its energy. The best solution– dry the bud so that it does not spoil. You can also put the flower in a bag. The result is a powerful amulet that you need to carry with you at all times. The fern flower is a symbol that attracts happiness, gives the ability to see treasures and protects from any. In addition, it is considered a powerful love magnet and with its help you can attract any person to you. Fern flower – Slavic symbol good luck, and there is also an opinion that it gives strength to understand the language of flora and fauna.
Fern flower - signs
Much has already been said about the power of a flower, but there are a large number of signs relating to the plant itself.
- If you couldn’t find a fern flower for luck, then you can place this potted plant in your home, which improves the atmosphere in the room, filling it vital energy and bringing harmony to the state of mind.
- With the help of fern, you can improve relationships in the family and, to a greater extent, between people of different ages.
- To protect yourself, your family and your home from evil spirits, it is recommended to keep a fern in your house. Please note that if its leaves begin to curl and wither, this is a signal that someone has caused damage.
- According to one of the signs, a flower can warn a person against thoughtless financial expenses.
- Since many wanted to take possession of the miracle plant, the ancient Slavs made the “Fern” amulet, which has powerful protective properties and attracts happiness to a person.
- It is important to consider that the fern is an “energy vampire” because it needs a lot of energy for normal growth. To avoid negative impact, place the pot near the TV or other electrical appliance.
An old legend says that a girl who finds a blooming fern will be happy in love and will soon get married. Should I believe this a beautiful fairy tale, it is up to each specific young person to decide individually. But you should definitely find out how the fern blooms in order to start looking for it.
How does a fairy tale legend describe the flowering of fern?
A legend has been passed down from mouth to mouth since ancient times that not every forest can contain a blooming fern. It can only grow in a completely wild thicket far from places where people live. In such a forest, under the canopy of centuries-old trees, there is a clearing overgrown with a huge number of ferns, but only one bush can bloom, and at night. If a girl finds such a bush around midnight, she will probably see a bright bud begin to grow from its middle right before her eyes.
In just a few minutes, the bud grows into a tall peduncle with a bud at the top. Exactly at midnight, this bud opens and the girl sees a bright huge flower in front of her, which, moreover, with its glow illuminates the entire clearing and the trees standing around.
Does the fern ever bloom?
People start talking about blooming ferns before the celebration of Ivan Kupala. This holiday was invented by the ancient Slavs and is celebrated on the night of the summer solstice. It is on this night, June 24 (according to the old style - this is July 7), that the day is the longest of the year, and the night is the shortest. It is believed that at this time absolutely all plants enter their most lush and luxurious flowering phase due to the fact that they receive a lot of sun. Many ancient books describe cases of flowering even of those plants that, by their nature, cannot bloom in principle. There are quite a lot of species of absolutely non-flowering green inhabitants of our planet, and the fern is one of them.
Why doesn't the fern bloom?
Ferns are very difficult to classify as any specific group of plants, because there are so many types of them. Each species belongs to a specific order, and this or that order belongs to a specific family. For convenience of classification, all these plants, and there are about 2000 of them in nature, are conventionally classified as ferns.
The fern group is very close to the secretagogue group, i.e. those plants that, such as mushrooms, reproduce by spores. Cryptogamy also includes mosses, horsetails, mosses and several other plants that reproduce by spores. If all plants familiar to us reproduce by flowering, further ripening of seeds and sowing them in the ground, then in ferns spores ripen on the back of the leaf. They are in special capsules, look like pollen and take root in the ground very easily.
Is the flowering fern nothing more than a legend?
On the Internet you can often find pictures in which in the middle of a fern bush you can see beautiful flower. But this is beauty - ordinary Photoshop. Using a common and quite convenient graphic editor, even an ordinary “teapot” can draw a beautiful flower growing between carved leaves.
None of the varieties of ferns can bloom: neither those that grow in wildlife, nor those grown in the country or in an apartment. But the bushes themselves are very decorative and not very difficult to grow. If you treat ferns with love and care, then even flowering plant can decorate garden plot or a home garden on the balcony.
If we remember the holiday of Ivan Kupala, then of course we immediately remember the legend about the fern that should bloom the night before this holiday. The myths associated with this flower gave many people hope to find it and become happy. But everything in life is not as simple as in the legend.
Flower of happiness
The fern flower blooms only in folk tales, but in reality you will not find flowering bush fern. Their reproduction takes place by spores, and not by seeds, which are formed after flowering. The spores are located on the reverse side of the leaf. The fern can also be propagated by dividing the root into parts. Fern spores appear and mature when other flowers bloom.
Young people often thought about whether a fern blooms when they were looking for its flower. He gave them hope for happiness. Many folk songs are written about ferns. People call it “fire-color” because in the legends about its flower they say that it is red in color. But if you look in more detail, then ancient legend there is a reason. Uzhovnik and grozdovnik – two rare species ferns that exist in nature. They have raceme-like flowers. But these are not flowers at all, but sporangia in which spores are stored, and in dry weather they open.
Everyone who lives or often visits the forest has often noticed it beautiful leaves. There are more than eleven thousand species of ferns and they are distributed throughout the Earth. Once upon a time these were giant plants, but these species have not survived to this day. Now the decorative fern has settled in our homes and feels great here.
Is the fern blooming? Be that as it may, we believe in legends, we believe in all good things and we know that sooner or later our wishes will come true. So, let's believe in this wonderful fern flower, which brings happiness to some, good luck to others, and happy love for life.
