Clan badge


A clan badge, sometimes called a plant badge, is a badge or emblem, usually a sprig of a specific plant, that is used to identify a member of a particular Scottish clan. They are usually worn in a bonnet behind the Scottish crest badge, or attached at the shoulder of a lady's tartan sash. According to popular lore clan badges were used by Scottish clans as a means of identification in battle. An authentic example of plants being used in this way were the sprigs of oats used by troops under the command of Montrose during the sack of Aberdeen. Similar items are known to have been used by military forces in Scotland, like paper, or the "White Cockade" of the Jacobites.

Authenticity

Despite popular lore, many clan badges attributed to Scottish clans would be completely impractical for use as a means of identification. Many would be unsuitable, even for a modern clan gathering, let alone a raging clan battle. Also, a number of the plants attributed as clan badges are only available during certain times of year. Even though it is maintained that clan badges were used long before the Scottish crest badges used today, according to a former Lord Lyon King of Arms the oldest symbols used at gatherings were heraldic flags such as the banner, standard and pinsel.
There is much confusion as to why some clans have been attributed more than one clan badge. Several 19th century writers variously attributed plants to clans, many times contradicting each other. It has been claimed by one writer that if a clan gained new lands it may have also acquired that district's "badge" and used it along with their own clan badge. It is clear however, that there are several large groups of clans which share badges and also share a historical connection. The Clan Donald group and clans/septs which have been associated with Clan Donald all have common heath attributed as their badge. Another large group is the Clan Chattan group which have been attributed red whortleberry, or bearberry, or boxwood. The leaves of these three plants are very similar, and at least one writer has claimed that whatever plant which happened to be available was used. One group, the Siol Alpin group, of clans are said to have claimed or are thought to share a common descent. The Siol Alpin clans are all attributed the clan badge of pine. In some cases, clan badges are derived from the heraldry of clan chiefs. For example, the Farquharsons have pine attributed as a clan badge of theirs. Pine was actually used in the Invercauld Arms as a mark of cadencing to the basic Shaw-Mackintosh Arms.

Plants used as badges

Clan namePlant badge attributed to the clanNotes
Arthurwild myrtle-
Arthurfir club moss-
BoydLaurel leaves-
Brodieperiwinkle-
Brucerosemary-
Buchananbillberry -
Buchananoak-
Buchananbirch-
Cameroncrowberry-
Cameronoak-
Campbellfir club moss-
Campbellwild myrtle Though abundant in Argyll, Bog Myrtle drops its leaves in winter.
Carruthersfurze-
Chattanwild whortleberry-
Chisholmfern-
Cochranesea holly-
Colquhounhazel-
Colquhoundogberry-
Cummingcommon sallow; i.e., the pussy willow-
Davidsonboxwood-
Davidsonred whortleberry-
Donnachaidhbracken, or fernThe Celtic Magazine of 1884 states that this badge, compared to fine leaved heath, is the older badge.
Donnachaidhfine leaved heath-
Drummondholly-
DrummondWild thyme-
FarquharsonScots fir-
Farquharsonred whortleberry-
Farquharsonfoxglove-
Fergussonlittle sunflower-
Forbesbroom-
Fraseryew-
Gordonivy-
GrahamLaurelOriginally the badge was Spurge Laurel, but as that plant is poisonous and not indigenous to Scotland, James, 8th Duke of Montrose petitioned the Lord Lyon to have the True Laurel recognised as the clan plant badge, which petition he was granted.
Grantpine -
Gregorpine -
GriersonScottish bluebell-
Gunnjuniper-
Gunnroseroot-
HannayperiwinkleThe Clan Hannay Society-
Haymistletoe-
Hendersoncotton grass-
Homebroom-
Innesgreat bulrush-
Jardineapple blossom-
Johnstonered hawthorn-
Kennedyoak-
Lamontcrab-apple tree-
Lamonttrefoil-
Lamontdryas-
Loganfurze-
MacAlistercommon heath-
MacAulaypine -
MacAulaycranberry-
MacBainboxwood-
MacBainred whortleberry-
MacDonaldcommon heath -
Macdonald of Clanranaldcommon heath-
MacDonald of Keppochcommon heath-
MacDonald of Keppochwhite heather-
MacDonell of Glengarrycommon heath-
MacDougallbell heather-
MacDougallcypress-
MacDuffboxwood-
MacDuffred whortleberry-
Macfarlanecranberry-
Macfarlanecloudberry-
Macfiepine -
Macfieoak-
Macfiecrowberry-
MacGillivrayboxwood-
MacGillivrayred whortleberry-
MacInnesholly-
MacIntyrecommon heath-
Mackaygreat bulrush-
Mackayheather-
Mackenzievariegated holly-
Mackenziedeer's grass Innes of Learney claimed that heath club rush may be confused with club moss. Club moss has also been attributed to the Macraes, who were the Mackenzie's "shirt of mail". Even if it is a confusion both 'deer's grass' and 'staghorn moss' likely refer to caberfeidh in the Mackenzie chiefly arms.
Mackinnonpine -
MackinnonSt John's wort -
Mackintoshred whortleberry-
Mackintoshbearberry-
Mackintoshboxwood-
Maclachlanrowan -
Maclachlanlesser periwinkle-
Maclaine of Lochbuiebilberry -
Maclaine of Lochbuiebramble-
Maclaine of Lochbuieholly-
Maclaine of Lochbuieblack berry heath-
MacLarenlaurel-
MacLeaThe Flower of the Grass of Parnassus.-
Macleancrowberry-
Macleanholly-
MacLennanfurze-
MacLeodjuniper-
Macleod of the Lewesred whortleberry-
MacMillanholly-
Macnabstone bramble-
Macnabcommon heath-
Macnaghtentrailing azalea-
MacNeilDryas -
MacNeiltrefoilThis clan badge may actually be attributed to the McNeills of Gigha, a branch of Clan MacNeil. Trefoil has also been atrributed to the Lamonts, another clan in Argyl. The Lamonts and MacNeils/McNeills both claim descent from the same O'Neill who settled in Scotland in the Middle Ages.
Macphersonwhite heather-
Macphersonboxwood-
Macphersonred whortleberry-
Macquarriepine -
Macqueenboxwood-
Macqueenred whortleberry-
Macraeclub mossClub moss sometimes referred to as staghorn grass, may refer to the Mackenzie chiefly arms, or at least the Macrae's close association with the Mackenzies.
Malcolm rowan berries-
Mathesonbroom-
Mathesonholly-
MenziesMenzies's heathProbably intended to be blue heath, Phyllodoce caerulea, a very rare member of the heather family, Ericaceae, found on several Scottish mountains. Its scientific name has changed since it was first found more than two centuries ago on the Sow of Atholl, but for much of the 19th century it was called Menziesia caerulea. Hence the reputed association with Clan Menzies. Menziesia was coined by James Edward Smith in 1793 to honour the Scottish physician and naturalist Dr Archibald Menzies who was attached to Capt. George Vancouver's circumnavigation, 1790-1795. The original species was Menziesia ferruginea, now named Rhododendron menziesii, a native of northwestern North America. No plants are now assigned to Menziesia which has been subsumed into Rhododendron. The name "Menzies's heath" is unknown in botanical literature.
Menziesash As mentioned-
MoncreiffeoakOak-leaves appear on a stone carving of the 12th laird's heraldic mantling of 1634.
Morrisondriftwood-
Munrocommon club moss-
Murraybutcher's broom-
Murrayjuniper-
Nicolsonjuniper-
Ogilvywhitethorn, hawthorn-
Ogilvyevergreen alkanet-
Oliphantbull rush-
Ramsayblue harebell-
Rosewild rosemary-
Rossjuniper-
RossbearberryThe 19th-century historian W. F. Skene listed this clan's badge as uva ursi, which is sometimes known as bearberry.
Setonyew-
Scottblaeberry-
Sinclairfurze -
Sinclairwhite clover-
Stewartoak Thistle-
Sutherlandbutcher's broom, cotton sedge-
Urquhartwallflower, gillyflower-
WoodOakThe oak is featured prominently on the shields of all the Woods' coats of arms.
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