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. They are usually worn affixed to the bonnet behind the Scottish crest badge,The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands; p.544; By Frank Adam, Thomas Innes of Learney; Published (1965) Johnston & Bacon 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.

Authenticity

Despite popular lore, many clan badges attributed to Scottish clans would be completely impractical for use as a means of identification. Many would be unsuitable, even for a modern clan gathering, let alone a raging clan battle. Also, a number of the plants (and flowers) attributed as clan badges are only available during certain times of year. Even though it is maintained that clan badges were used long before the Scottish crest badges used today, according to a former Lord Lyon King of Arms the oldest symbols used at gatherings were heraldic flags such as the banner, standard and pinsel. There is much confusion as to why some clans have been attributed more than one clan badge. Several 19th century writers variously attributed plants to clans, many times contradicting each other. It has been claimed by one writer that if a clan gained new lands it may have also acquired that district's "badge" and used it along with their own clan badge. It is clear however, that there are several large groups of clans which share badges and also share a historical connection. The

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...

group (clans ''

Macdonald Macdonald, MacDonald or McDonald may refer to: Organisations * McDonald's, a chain of fast food restaurants * McDonald & Co., a former investment firm * MacDonald Motorsports, a NASCAR team * Macdonald Realty, a Canadian real estate brokerage f ...

'', '' Macdonald of Clanranald'', '' Macdonell of Glengarry'', ''

MacDonald of Keppoch Clan MacDonald of Keppoch ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill na Ceapaich ), also known as Clan Ranald of Lochaber or Clan MacDonell of Keppoch'','' is a Highland Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald. The progenitor of the clan is Alistair Carrach Mac ...

'') and clans/

septs A sept is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish clan, Scottish or List of Irish clans, Irish family. The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as ''sliocht'', meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may ind ...

which have been associated with Clan Donald (like certain ''MacIntyres'' and the ''Macqueens'' of Skye) all have common heath attributed as their badge. Another large group is the Clan Chattan group (clans '' Mackintosh'', '' Macpherson'', '' Macgillivray'', '' Macqueen'', '' Macbain'', ''

Farquharson Farquharson ( or ) is a surname of Scottish origin, and may refer to: *Ashley Farquharson (born 1999), American luger * Donald Farquharson (1925–2000), Welsh-Canadian sportsman * Donald Farquharson (1834–1903), Canadian politician from Prince E ...

'', '' Davidson'') which have been attributed red whortleberry (sometimes called cranberry in Scotland), or bearberry, or boxwood. The leaves of these three plants are very similar, and at least one writer has claimed that whatever plant which happened to be available was used. One group, the Siol Alpin group, of clans are said to have claimed or are thought to share a common descent. The Siol Alpin clans (clans '' Grant'', '' Gregor'', '' MacAulay'', ''

Macfie Macfie or MacFie is a surname of Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic ''Mac Dhuibhshíthe'', which means "son of ''Duibhshíth''" (or alternately ''MacDhubhshith'', "son of ''Dubhshithe''"). This Gaelic personal name is composed of ...

'', '' Macnab'', '' Mackinnon'', ''

Macquarrie __NOTOC__ MacQuarrie is a family name of Scotland, Scottish origin.Farquharsons have pine attributed as a clan badge of theirs (pine also appears on the uniforms of the

Invercauld Highlanders Invercauld may refer to: *Invercauld (ship), ship wrecked on the Auckland Islands, New Zealand in 1864 *Invercauld Castle Invercauld Castle () is a country house situated in Royal Deeside near Braemar in Scotland. It is protected as a category A ...

). Pine was actually used in the Invercauld

Arms Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons **Fi ...

as a mark of cadencing to the basic Shaw-Mackintosh Arms.