This primitive fern is very useful.
In the olden days, it was used for one special way. First a vines or soft sticks would be sued to fashion the base for a wreath like this. (Photo from Google)
And the ferns would be collected to wrap around the base.
Most wreaths for funerals in Sibu were made from this fern. First the rattan or wire would be fashioned into a big ring and then the ferns would be used to bind the wires or rattan. Flowers would then be tied to the wreath by small wires.
My paternal grandfather was particularly good at making wreaths for funerals. I was told that Mrs. James Hoover taught many of the early Foochows how to make wreaths. Flowers then were alamanda (yellow), gardenia and bougainvillea. It was only much later that orchids and chrysanthemums were imported by commercial florists.
This was also how the Sibu Methodist Children's Home children were taught to make wreaths by pastors' wives. Orchids,and other flowers were sent to the children's Home for wreath making. I think one can still find an old model of wreath in the Children's Home.
That was a good way for the Children's Home to earn some money.
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