Breastagh Ogham Pillar, Co Mayo, Ireland, 1895
Studying the Ogam involves finding and knowing it’s plants . But as many of us don’t live in northern Europe, we have to look to our own region for plants that correspond to the traditional Ogam fews. This can be as simple as finding any local tree of the same species, or a non-related plant that matches some basic features of that few.
I was surprised to find many matching species for fews in the Florida region. I also tried for plants that can be reasonably easy to find, which unfortunately left out our endangered Yew and Torreya trees.
The table below shows the basic letters (including alternate spellings), their Irish name, symbol, associated European tree, and a corresponding north central Florida plant. There are links to a page for each few, with plant photos and information, modern associations, and some related folklore. This is generally accepted information that can be a starting point for your own study. There are many references out there, and the ones I use for these Ogam pages are listed after the table.
Ogam beginnings
The Ogam (or Ogham in New Irish) alphabet dates to about 300 C.E. in Ireland, and was carved on wood or stone and used in manuscripts. The letters in this alphabet originally had numerous systems associated with it. The ‘tree’ Ogam – versions of which is most commonly in use now -was just one of 150 different types used historically (Ellison, 2007).
An Ogam system uses a category (like trees or birds), and then finds an item that starts with the Ogam letter sound. The ogams had short phrases or kennings (word ogams) applied to explain the meanings of the names of some of the letters of the Ogam alphabet. (Wikipedia, Briatharogam.)
There is evidence that besides being a regular alphabet, the Ogam was used for secret messages, ciphers, mnemonic lists, sign language, and perhaps in divination (Ellison, 2007).
Ogam alphabet structure
Acime: a set of five letters. Originally there were 20 letters (3 groups of consonants and 1 group of vowels), but 5 more letters (of dipthongs – mixed vowel sounds) were added for a total of 25 letters. Each acime is named for their first letter. Plural= acimi.
Few: an individual letter (translates as “tree” in Irish). Plural= feda.
Flesc: a series of notches crossing a central column or line (translates as “twig” in Irish); used in the first 20 feda.
Forfeda: extra letters. This includes the later 5th acime – the Acime of Eabhadh- and other additions. The Acime of Eabhadh was added to allow the use of words borrowed from Latin. I also include 2 other common modern forfeda in the table below (Ellison, 2007).
Ogam today
Over the years the original and varied Ogams, kennings, and treelore have combined into our modern tree Ogam. It has resulted in a system of correspondences and associations that are well suited for use as an oracle or in divination. As in times past, new associations and uses are still being debated and developed.
A study of the Ogam will often include ongoing studies in the life sciences, finding your local trees, and developing your own associations and kennings for the feda. The rich symbolism and wealth of associated myth and lore provides a unique framework for learning about and communing with the ‘woods’ where you live.
My hope is that sharing this Florida Ogam will inspire others to go out and develop Ogams for their local areas.
| Name & Symbol | NW Europe Tree | Florida Tree |
| BEITH
| BIRCH (Betula alba, pendula, or pubescens) | RIVER BIRCH (Betula nigra) |
| LUIS
| ROWAN OR MOUNTAIN ASH (Sorbus aucuparia) | BLACK CHERRY (Prunus serotina) |
| FEARN
| ALDER (Alnus glutinosa) | HAZEL ALDER (Alnus serrulata) |
| SAILLE
| WILLOW (Salix fragilis, alba, viminalis, or caprea) | WILLOW (Salix caroliniana Michaux, eriocephala, or floridana) |
| NUIN
| ASH (Fraxinus excelsior) | WHITE ASH (Fraxinus americana Linnaeus) |
| Name & Symbol | NW Europe Tree | Florida Tree |
| HUATHE
| HAWTHORN (Crataegus monogyna & oxyacantha) | HAWTHORN (Crataegus uniflora M.) |
| DUIR
| OAK (Quercus rubur or petraea) | LAUREL OAK (Quercus hemisphaerica) WATER OAK (Quercus nigra) |
| TINNE
| HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium) | AMERICAN HOLLY (Ilex opaca) TOPAL HOLLY (Ilex x attenuata Ashe) |
| CULL
| HAZEL (Corylus avellana) | AMERICAN HORNBEAM (Carpinus caroliniana) |
| QUERT
| APPLE (Pyrus malus or sylvestris) | SOUTHERN CRABAPPLE (Malus angustifolia M.) |
| Name & Symbol | NW Europe Tree | Florida Tree |
| MUIN
| VINE (grape) (Vitis vinifera) | MUSCADINE GRAPE (Vitus rotundifolia Michx.) |
| BRAMBLE (Blackberry)(Rubus Fruticosa) | SAND BLACKBERRY (Rubus cuneifolius) | |
| GORT
| IVY (Hedera helix) | VIRGINA CREEPER (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) |
| NGETAL
| BROOM (Cytisus scoparius) | SWEETBROOM (Scoparia dulcis) |
| REED (Phragmites australis) | SWITCHCANE (Arundinaria gigantea) | |
| FERN (Pteridium aquilinum) | BRACKEN FERN (Pteridium aquilinum) | |
| STRAIF
| BLACKTHORN (Prunus spinosa) | HOG or FLATWOODS PLUM (Prunus umbellata E.) |
| RUIS
| ELDER (Sambucus nigra) | ELDERBERRY (Sambucus nigra Canad.) |
| Name & Symbol | NW Europe Tree | Florida Tree |
| AILM
| SCOTS PINE (Pinus sylvestris) | LONGLEAF PINE (Pinus palustris Mill.) SLASH PINE (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) |
| SILVER FIR (Abies alba) | LOBLOLLY PINE (Pinus taeda Linnaeus) | |
| ELM (Ulmus glabra) | WINGED ELM (Ulmus alata M.) | |
| OHN (or ONN)
| FRUZE, GORSE (Ulex europaneus) | SICKLEPOD (Senna obtusifolia) |
| UR (or URA)
| HEATHER (Calluna vulgaris) | HAIRY WICKY (Kalmia hirsuta Walt.) |
| EABHA (or EADHA)
| ASPEN (Populus tremula) | SWEETGUM (Liquidamber styraciflua L.) |
| IOHO (or IDHO)
| YEW (Taxus baccata) | BALD CYPRESS (Taxodium distichum) |
| Name & Symbol | NW Europe Tree | Florida Tree |
| EABHADH (or EBAD)
| ASPEN (or a grove of all trees) (Populus tremula) | SWEETGUM (Liquidamber styraciflua L.) |
| OIR (or Or)
| SPINDLE (Euonymus europaeus) | AMERICAN STRAWBERRYBUSH (Euonymus americanus L.) |
| UILLEAND
| HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera periclymenum) | CORAL HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera sempervirens L.) |
| IPHEN
| GOOSEBERRY (Ribes uva-crispa) | HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium corymbosum) |
| EAMANCHOLL (or PHAGOS)
| BEECH (Fagus sylvatica) | AMERICAN BEECH (Fagus grandifolia) |
| Name & Symbol | NW Europe Tree | Florida Tree |
| PEITH
| SWAMP ELDER (Viburnum opulus) | RUSTY BLACKHAW (Viburnum rifidulum) |
| The UNSPEAKABLE (or blank)
| MISTLETOE (Viscum album) | MISTLETOE (Phoradendron leucarpum) |
The god Ogma, creator of the Ogam
Ogma, sculpted bronze figure by Lee Lawrie. Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C. 1939.
In Ireland Ogma was one of the ‘ three gods of skill’ with his brother The Dagda and his half-brother Lugh. It was said that Ogma invented the Ogam alphabet, which is named after him.
Resources
Blamires, Steve (2002). Celtic Tree Mysteries: Practical Druid Magic & Divination (Llewellyn’s Celtic Wisdom)
Bríatharogam (2015) in Wikipedia.
Ellison, Rev. Robert “Skip” (2014-03-16). Ogham: The Secret Language of the Druids . ADF Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Laurie, Erynn Rowan (2007). Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom. Megalithica Books
Matthews, Caitlin (2001). Celtic Wisdom Sticks: Ancient Ogam Symbols Offer Guidance for Today
Ogam: The Celtic Oracle of the Trees: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Druidic Alphabet. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books.
Murray, L. & C. (1988). The Celtic Tree Oracle: A System of Divination. London: Rider & Co. Ltd.
Ogham (2015) in Wikipedia
Paterson, Jacqueline Memory (1996). Tree Wisdom: The Definitive Guidebook to the Myth, Folklore, and Healing Power of Trees. London: Thorsons
The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide (Reference and Field Guides) by Gil Nelson (1996)
The Trees of Florida by Gil Nelson (2010)
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS)
School of Forest Resources & Conservation IFAS, University of Florida Forest Trees (and Plants) catalog
North Dakota Tree Information Center
University of Texas, Austin- Wildflower Center
USDA Fire Effects Information- Plants
University of Michigan, Deerborn Ethnobotany Database [/tab]
Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffmann (2003)Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine by David Hoffmann (2003)
Botanical.com, A Modern Herbal (tends to only have European species, and limited American species listed)
For reports of uses by American Indians (by plant species)- University of Michigan, Deerborn Ethnobotany Database
HerbMed (search and get results of scientific articles on herbs)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH
Ogam & Native Florida Plants (This page. 2012-2015). Dana A.
Dryadia’s Native Texas Oghams (Archived site without photos – no longer online. 2007). Dryadia
A Pacific Northwest Ogham. (2003). John Michael Greer
An Australian Ogham by Taran
Native Tree Lore and Ogham – Exploring the magickal natures of Australian plants and trees
Tree & Plant Photos: by Dana A.
Publication Info
This Florida Ogam page was originally published on 6-6-2012, with many revisions including:
- May 10, 2015- revised table structure, and added general Ogam information.