TheIrrwurz (German:[ˈɪʁˌvʊʁts]),[1]Irrwurzel[2] (both "astray root"; pl.Irrwurzen orIrrwurzeln) orIrrkraut[1] ("astray herb"; pl.Irrkräuter) is alegendary plant fromGerman-speakingcountries. In France it is known asherbe d'égarement[3] ("herb of befuddlement"; pl.herbes d'égarement) among other names. ACeltic equivalent is thestray sod.
The exactbotanical identity of theIrrwurz varies. Sometimes it is identified withfern,[4] though not inTyrol where fern andIrrwurzel are said to be completely different plants.[5] It is also said to be a special kind oftree root, namely one growingcrosswise, one growing likeSt. Andrew's cross, or one belonging to a tree hit by lightning. Furthermore, it also gets identified or confused with another kind of plant with legendary features, thespringwort (GermanSpringwurzel).[4]
The typical trait of theIrrwurz is that whoever steps on it goes astray and cannot find the way back. This plant, according to legend, is often found growing in forests, this being the reason peopleget lost in the woods.[1] InThuringia it is specified that a person only goes astray when stepping overIrrkraut (here: fern) without seeing it. In Tyrol, stepping on anIrrwurz immediately transfers you to aknacker's yard or into a swamp.[6] Other, less common variants of the legend include getting lost after the seed of theIrrkraut, calledIrrsame ("astray seed"),[7] fell inside one's shoes, or not finding home after eating someIrrwurzel.[2] In Switzerland, where this plant is known asVexierchrut ("vexing herb") and identified with fern, one goes astray when carrying some of it in one's pocket.[8] In Thuringia, where theIrrkraut fern is also known asOtterkraut orAtterkreutich (both "adder or viper herb"), it does not only lead people astray but also makes adders and vipers chase the person carrying the plant lest they throw it away.[9] InCarinthia, getting lost after stepping on aIrrwurzen is attributed to a spirit orgoblin standing in front of the right path and 'veneering' (i.e. hiding) it.[10]
There are some remedies known which are of help after getting lost. As such, the plant's magic can be staved off by taking off one's shoes[1] or specifically switching them (right to left and left to right).[8] Women might also take off their apron and tie it on again inside out. Both methods can be used not only to end the magic but also to prevent it from happening in the first place.[11] In Tyrol, though, one has to go astray until another steps on theIrrwurzel.[12]
In theZiller Valley in Tyrol, the lastIrrwurz is said to have been burned in1803 by an oil merchant who owned it. He did it after being told so by the cleric who came to him when he lay on hisdeathbed.[1]
The German ancestors of thePennsylvania Dutch brought the mythological idea ofIrrkraut to theNew World, calling itVerirrgraut[13] ("going astray herb")[14] intheir dialect and identifying it with therattlesnake plantain. When stepping on it at night, the victim is said to wander around aimlessly until morning comes. If stepping on it at day, the victim has to be shocked back to reason or else it won't stop wandering around aimlessly. Pennsylvania Dutch remedies against going astray are walking barefoot or switching shoes.[15]
Theherbe d'égarement is known under a plethora of names through all of France. It is calledherbe qui égare ("herb which leads astray") inNormandy and inMeudon near Paris. InBesançon, its name isherbe à la recule ("herb to move backwards").[3] In the 18th century it was also calledherbe de fourvoiement ("herb of going astray"). In Normandy it is further calledegaire, inSaintogneherbe maudite ("herb of the damned soul") orherbe des tournes ("herb of turns"), inAnjouherbe à adirer ("herb to get lost"). InUpper Brittany andLorraine it is known asherbe d'oubli ("herb of oblivion"). InLower Brittany it is simply known asl'herbe, orar Iotan inBreton (both "the herb").[16]
Theherbe d'égarement is a plant of unknown appearance which makes those who step on it lose their sense of direction or retrace their own steps.[16] InFranche-Comté, it is also said that theplantain makes people go astray.[17] InBurgundy, whoever stepps on the so-calledtourmentine growing in the forest will walk the same path a hundred times over without being able to recognize it lest he finds theherb Paris whose seeds show where the path continues when they fall.[3] TheBretonar Iotan is inhabited by a spirit which makes people lose their way. At night it spreads a phosphorescent light like that of certainglowworms. Its spell can be broken by turning one's clothing inside out, though.[18] InLéon in Brittany, where it is known asherbe qui trouble la vue ("herb which troubles the sight"), one switches one's clogs as a remedy.[17] AroundMoncontour in Brittany, theherbe d'oubli further has the power to make people understand the language of animals but only as long as the one who has touched or taken it isn't aware that the plant in question is in fact theherbe d'oubli.[19]