fiddlehead
Curled fern shoot
A fiddlehead is the tightly coiled frond of a young fern, harvested before it unfurls.
The name comes from its resemblance to the scroll at the head of a violin.
Fiddleheads are foraged in spring and eaten as a vegetable, typically blanched or sautéed: We found fiddleheads by the creek and had them with dinner.
Spiral or loop form
- spiralCurve winding around center
- coilWound circular arrangement
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- frondLarge, segmented plant blade
unfurling · crosier · scroll · volute · tendril · helix · furl · crook
Large, segmented plant blade
- brackenCoarse, spreading fern
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- rhizomeHorizontal underground plant stem
- woodlandForested land area
understory · shade-tolerant · perennial · vascular · fernery · gametophyte · botany
Gathering uncultivated natural materials
- foragerOne seeking wild food
- woodsForested area
- springtimeSeason following winter
- harvestGathering mature crops
identification · edible · underbrush · streamside · damp · shaded · woodland · picking
Relating to spring
- emergenceComing into existence
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- woodlandForested land area
damp · streambank · April · May · snowmelt · thaw · greenery · sprouting
Sought wild food
- blanchedMade white by heat
- sautéedCooked quickly in fat
- steamedHeated by vapor
- springtimeSeason following winter
bitter · grassy · asparagus-like · seasonal · vegetable · side-dish · harvest · market
Spiral ornamental design
- finialDecorative top element
- voluteArchitectural spiral ornament
- carvedCut to create form
- decorativeServing to beautify
motif · wrought-iron · balustrade · newel · acanthus · architectural · filigree · ironwork
curl
Spiral or loop form
frond · unfurling · crosier · scroll · volute · tendril · helix · furl · crook · arc
frond
Large, segmented plant blade
woodland · understory · shade-tolerant · perennial · vascular · fernery · gametophyte · botany
wildcrafting
Gathering uncultivated natural materials
- foragerOne seeking wild food
- woodsForested area
- springtimeSeason following winter
harvest · identification · edible · underbrush · streamside · damp · shaded · woodland · picking · gathering
vernal
Relating to spring
woodland · damp · streambank · April · May · snowmelt · thaw · greenery · sprouting · renewal
foraged
Sought wild food
springtime · bitter · grassy · asparagus-like · seasonal · vegetable · side-dish · harvest · market · organic
scrollwork
Spiral ornamental design
decorative · motif · wrought-iron · balustrade · newel · acanthus · architectural · filigree · ironwork · railing