Origin & History During the Dark Ages, the fern seed was
believed to render men invisible. In medieval England, the root
of the common male fern was an important ingredient in love
potions, as demonstrated in this ancient Gaelic song: "Twas the
maiden's matchless beauty The fern generally signifies
sincerity, confidence, and shelter. A royal fern denotes
reverie, while the exchange of a maidenhair fern expresses a
secret bond of love.