What is "osmunda regalis"

Osmund \Os"mund\, n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Osmunda, or flowering fern. The most remarkable species is the osmund royal, or royal fern ( Osmunda regalis), which grows in wet or boggy places, and has large bipinnate fronds, often with a panicle of capsules at the top. The rootstock contains much starch, and has been used in stiffening linen.

Royal \Roy"al\, a. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.]

1. Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state.

2. Noble; generous; magnificent; princely.

   How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio?
   --Shak.

3. Under the patronage of royality; holding a charter granted by the sovereign; as, the Royal Academy of Arts; the Royal Society.

   Battle royal. See under Battle.

   Royal bay (Bot.), the classic laurel ( Laurus nobilis.)

   Royal eagle. (Zo["o]l.) See Golden eagle, under Golden.

   Royal fern (Bot.), the handsome fern Osmunda regalis. See Osmund.

   Royal mast (Naut.), the mast next above the topgallant mast and usually the highest on a square-rigged vessel. The royal yard and royal sail are attached to the royal mast.

   Royal metal, an old name for gold.

   Royal palm (Bot.), a magnificent West Indian palm tree ( Oreodoxa regia), lately discovered also in Florida.

   Royal pheasant. See Curassow.

   Royal purple, an intense violet color, verging toward blue.

   Royal tern (Zo["o]l.), a large, crested American tern ( Sterna maxima).

   Royal tiger. (Zo["o]l.) See Tiger.

   Royal touch, the touching of a diseased person by the hand of a king, with the view of restoring to health; -- formerly extensively practiced, particularly for the scrofula, or king's evil.

   Syn: Kingly; regal; monarchical; imperial; kinglike; princely; august; majestic; superb; splendid; illustrious; noble; magnanimous.

Osmunda regalis, or royal fern, is a species of deciduous fern, native to Europe, Africa and Asia, growing in woodland bogs and on the banks of streams. The species is sometimes known as flowering fern due to the appearance of its fertile fronds.