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 group (clans
Macdonald,
Macdonald of Clanranald,
Macdonell of Glengarry,
MacDonald of Keppoch) and clans/
septs 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,
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,
Macnab,
Mackinnon,
Macquarrie) are all attributed the clan badge of pine (Scots fir). In some cases, clan badges are derived from the heraldry of clan chiefs. For example, the
Farquharsons have
pine attributed as a clan badge of theirs (pine also appears on the uniforms of the Invercauld Highlanders). Pine was actually used in the Invercauld
Arms as a mark of cadencing to the basic Shaw-Mackintosh Arms. ==Plants used as badges==