What fern was the inspiration for a legendary zoophyte that was once believed to grow sheep as its fruit?
Cibotium barometz: Cibotium barometz, the golden chicken fern or woolly fern, is a species of tree fern native to parts of China and to the western part of the Malay Peninsula. Cibotium barometz:  The fern's woolly rhizome was thought to be the inspiration for the mythical "Vegetable Lamb of Tartary". Vegetable Lamb of Tartary: The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary (Latin: "Agnus scythicus" or "Planta Tartarica Barometz") is a legendary zoophyte of Central Asia, once believed to grow sheep as its fruit.
Cibotium barometz