Sacred food as offering is a concept within anthropology regarding the study of food as it relates to religious ritual.
Many religions have prescriptions about the correct preparation and cooking of food, besides the taboos about forbidden subjects. Many religions have special spellings for the food, which sacralize it and, therefore, who will eat it; but there are foods sacred by its inner nature. In Brazilian Candomblé by example, fish are sacred for their connection to Iemanjá, horns given the relation to Iansã. Consequently, those foods are considered offerings. This takes place in other religions too.
Some examples include:
- Sacramental bread, and sacramental wine, are elements in the Eucharist.
- Chrism, also called myrrh, and holy anointing oil -- Element in anointing of the sick, baptism, and priesthood blessing
- coconut: Ganesha in Hinduism
- milk, betel leaves: Shiva in Hinduism
- flowers, tulsi and fruit: Krishna in Hinduism
- Oxalá in Candomblé (see above)
- bread: the body of Christ in Catholicism
- the challah in Judaism is symbol of divine presence in shabat
- chestnut: Befana
- coca leaf: for the Andean cultures
- Leola's Maize Corn: Amerindian goddess of prosperity in cajun of Louisiana
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction