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This page is move protected The subject of this article is involved with the Once Upon a Time The subject of this article is a fungus The subject of this article is involved with Camelot The subject of this article is involved with Storybrooke The subject of this article is magical or capable of using magic The subject of this article is featured in Season Five of Once Upon a Time
This article focuses on the fungus.
For the Oz item, see Crimson Heart.
For the New Enchanted Forest location with a similar name, see The Crimson Crow.

Deadly poison. Extremely useful in communicating across barriers, even through spells. Says here it's called the Crimson Crown.

Regina Mills src


The Crimson Crown, also known as Vermiculus coronam, is a magical fungus featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the third episode of the fifth season.

Properties

The Crimson Crown is a magical toadstool that can be used to communicate through magical barriers. It does, however, have its limitations, such as it can only be used to contact Merlin by someone who was chosen by him, like the Apprentice or the Author.

It is possible to burn a Crimson Crown, but the toadstool only becomes charred and it is incapable of being completely burnt to ash. Additionally, even if it's charred, the crimson crown retains its magical properties and can still be used. ("The Bear and the Bow")

History

Before Third Curse

Prompted by Mary Margaret's suggestion that they need a way to talk to Merlin, who is trapped in a tree, Regina brings up information in a book about a toadstool called the crimson crown, which can communicate across magical barriers. To help herself remember its importance, Regina marks the page with a question mark on a sticky note. King Arthur has heard it is in the Forest of Eternal Night, but he cannot be sure the toadstool is real. Even so, David decides to search for it, and Arthur accompanies him there, with the unquenchable flame guiding the way. In the forest, the men see the crimson crown sitting on mossy land, but to reach it, they have to cross a water logged bridge. Since the bridge can only hold one person, David goes by himself. At the other side, he cuts off the toadstool, putting it in his belt satchel, but as he walks back across, he is attacked by reanimated dead knights. After taking out three of them, an unexpected fourth knight drags David underwater, but Arthur eventually pulls him to safety. Without David's notice, Arthur steals the toadstool, which David later believes was lost during the watery struggle. Although the quest is a failure, the mission builds strong ties between Arthur and David, resulting in Arthur knighting David and giving him the Siege Perilous seat. After the ceremony is over and everyone has left the room, Arthur unveils the toadstool to Guinevere, admitting that he didn't like lying to David, but he had to for the kingdom's sake. ("Siege Perilous")

After Third Curse

Six weeks later, Emma transports her family, friends as well as some natives of Camelot to Storybrooke, with their memories of the last six weeks wiped out. When the curse takes effect, the crimson crown, presumably still in King Arthur's possession, is also brought over. Some days after this, Regina finds a book from Camelot that has a sticky note on the crimson crown page. She shows the note to David and Mary Margaret, explaining that she recognizes the question mark as her own handwriting, but she cannot remember why she marked it. Later in the day, after David is preparing to lock up Arthur's squire for stealing, he discovers the crimson crown in the woods near the Camelot natives' campsite. Arthur, not recalling what transpired weeks ago, doesn't stop David from taking it. Regrouping with Mary Margaret and Regina, David presents the toadstool to them, as they conclude that they were trying to use it to communicate with Merlin. ("The Dark Swan," "Siege Perilous")

Gathered in Regina's vault, the Storybrooke group wait for Arthur, as only a person chosen by Merlin can harness the crimson crown. When Arthur does arrive, he hesitates in throwing the toadstool into the prepared cauldron brew, believing it would be best that he talks to Merlin alone since the sorcerer only ever spoke to him when no one was around. Once everyone else leaves the room, Arthur tosses the crimson crown into the burning fire under the cauldron. He later reports to the group about the spell not working, but upon closer examination, David eventually finds the charred toadstool in the fire's ashes. As an alternative, Henry is called in to use the toadstool, since he was chosen by Merlin to become the Author. This time, the spell works, with the group seeing a hologram of Merlin, with a recorded message from six weeks ago, telling them to look for someone named Nimue if they wish to defeat the Dark One. ("The Bear and the Bow")

Trivia

On-Screen Notes

  • The illustration of the fungus lists its species name as "vermiculus coronam,"[1] which is Latin for "crimson crown".[2] ("Siege Perilous")
  • The book that Regina is reading (note that a few words are illegible on-screen, but can be read on a prop page which was auctioned off on eBay in March 2019;[3] the illegible text is set in fuchsia), says:[4]


The Crimson Crown has as
its essence a moste
pernicious poison that brings
to pass an intemperate
humour and can lead to the
demyse [sic] o' the wight if
remedye [sic] is not administer'd
in time.

There are other properties
that this toadstool doth
possess magical properties
It is of beneficence when one
has to communicate across
barriers even through
spells. They grow in
Brocéliande The Forest of
Eternal Night.

The Crimson Crown has
masculine correspondences
and is aligned with the
planet Mercury and the air
element. It may be used as a fertility
charm. Some use this
toadstool to aid with astral
travel
. This can be
dangerous.

Some associate this fungus
with Dionysus.

There are a number of other
folk magic uses for The
Crimson Crown, and one
may incorporate them at a
symbolic level, rather than
actually eating them.

In many areas, the
appearance of a ring of
Crimson Crowns on the
ground is cause for either
rejoicing or alarm. In The
Southern Lands, these
circles are known as fairy
rings
– and they are where
the Fae come to dance and
cavort after a rainstorm.

Moreover, like many other
locations associated with
faeries [sic], humans who,
perchance, dare to enter
such a ring may find
themselves asleep for a
hundred years, or worse
yet, whisked off to the land
of the little folk, never to
return.

In the Western Mountains,
these rings are formed when
an ogre sets down his milk
churn – once he picks it up,
there's a big circle left in the
grass.

In some ridings, such as The
Enchanted Forest and the
wetlands to the East, these
rings are associated with
sorcery and malevolent
magic, and travelers are
well-advised to steer clear of
them.
("Siege Perilous")
  • Some of the information is adapted from Witchipedia.com's article "Magical and Spiritual Consideration," about the toadstool fly agaric. The original text reads thus:
"Magic mushroom has masculine [sic] and is aligned with the planet Mercury and the air element. It may be used as a fertility charm. Some use this mushroom to aid with astral travel. However, it should be noted that using chemical assistance is never advised and can be dangerous. Some associate this fungus with Dionysus, mainly because of its intoxicating potential."[5]
Other parts of the text are adapted from the following excerpts from the online article "Mushroom Magic and Folklore," published by About.com at the time the episode "Siege Perilous" was filmed,[6] but later moved to the website ThoughtCo.:[7]
  • "In Holland, these rings are believed to be left when the Devil sets down his milk churn - once he picks it up, there's a big circle left in the grass. In some countries, such as France and Austria, these rings are associated with sorcery and malevolent magic, and travelers are well-advised to steer clear of them."
  • "In many areas, the appearance of a ring of mushrooms on the ground is cause for either rejoicing or alarm. In Great Britain, these circles are known as fairy rings - and they are where the Fae come to dance and frolic after a rainstorm. However, like many other locations associated with faeries, humans who dare to enter such a ring may find themselves asleep for a hundred years, or worse yet, whisked off to the land of the wee folk, never to return."

Production Notes


The True Spell of
the
Crimson Crown

There is a Forme of
true Divination, for
speaking through
barriers, of both
material and that of
the spirit worlde.

For the workings, the adept will need the
Crimson Crowne toadstool which is then
renderede down into complete morsels.

The Nine Woods in the Cauldron go, burn them
fast and burn them slow. When is ebullient and
steaming, add some comfrey horsetail yarrow
and the umbilicus of a mooncalf. Mix well in a
deosil fashion.

Into theis [sic] melange the mushroom should be
thrown and soon thereafter a portal cloud will
start to forme. It is in ??? of the cloud that
the adept will speke [sic] and communicate with
those as according to her will.
  • "Nine Woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow" is taken directly from the Wiccan Rede,[9] an official statement that provides the key moral system of Wicca.

Props Notes

Appearances


References

  1. File:503TheCrimsonCrown.png
  2. Vermiculus coronum. Google Translate. Retrieved on July 11, 2018. “crimson crown”
  3. ONCE UPON A TIME TV Series Crimson Crown Book Page Prop (OUAT1832). eBay (March 2019). Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. (Photograph)
  4. File:503ReginaFindsInformation.png
    File:503ToadstoolActually.png
    File:503ToadstoolActually2.png
    File:503StuffOfLegend.png
    File:503ThisQuestionMark.png
    File:503ThisQuestionMark2.png
    File:503IFoundThisMorning.png
  5. Magical and Spiritual Considerations. Witchipedia. Retrieved on July 11, 2018.
  6. Back-up copy created by Internet Archive in August 2015, the same month that the episode "Siege Perilous" was filmed:
    Wigington, Patti. Mushroom Magic and Folklore. About.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015.
  7. Wigington, Patti (Updated June 19, 2017). Mushroom Magic and Folklore. ThoughtCo.
  8. File:ManuscriptsVariousEpisodesConceptArt.png
  9. The Wiccan Rede (Full Version). The Celtic Connection. Retrieved on July 12, 2018.
  10. Crimson Crown Toadstool from Once Upon a Time Season 5, Episode 4 [sic].. iCollector. Retrieved on December 11, 2019. “Crimson Crown Toadstool from Once Upon a Time Season 5, Episode 4 [sic]. (Disney-ABC, 2011-2018) Mushroom 4.5x4 Painted plaster The Crimson Crown toadstool also appears in season 7 (S07E09) where it is used by Rapunzel to poison the guests at Drizella's birthday party.”
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