Plant 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.^[1] They are usually worn affixed to the bonnet^[2] behind the Scottish crest badge,^[3] or pinned 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 (though not by a clan) 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" (a bunch of white ribbon) of the Jacobites.^[4]

^ Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South; p.39; By Celeste Ray; Published 2001 UNC Press; ISBN 0-8078-4913-8; see
^ Antiquity; p.42; By Nederlands Instituut te Rome; Published 1949 Antiquity Publications; see
^ The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands; p.544; By Frank Adam, Thomas Innes of Learney; Published (1965) Johnston & Bacon
^ Cite error: The named reference Campbell-p289–290 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South; p.39; By Celeste Ray; Published 2001 UNC Press; ISBN 0-8078-4913-8; see

[2] Antiquity; p.42; By Nederlands Instituut te Rome; Published 1949 Antiquity Publications; see

[3] The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands; p.544; By Frank Adam, Thomas Innes of Learney; Published (1965) Johnston & Bacon

[Campbell-p289–290-4] Cite error: The named reference Campbell-p289–290 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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