114 FERNS OF THE LAKE COUNTRY 



decaying stalks of many previous years. As the spring 

 advances, the frond rapidly increases in size, until in 

 April it makes its appearance above ground, and in 

 May or June attains its perfect development."* Mr. 

 Newman also found the frond of the ensuing year in 

 every respect perfectly formed indeed, exactly in the 

 state in which it is found in the early spring before 

 development ; while the frond for the next following 

 year, though less perfectly formed, also had the fruit- 

 ful and leafy portions distinct from each other. These 

 observations being made in May, while the plant was 

 still growing, the fronds of three successive years were 

 distinguishable at the same time. 



The name botrychium is from the Greek lotrys a 

 cluster, because of the likeness of the branched clusters 

 of spore-cases to the form of a bunch or cluster of 

 grapes. The English name of Moonwort is given on 

 account of the lunate (or crescent-like) form of the 

 pinnae in the British species. 



The Common Moonwort prefers dry, open, and ele- 

 vated pastures and waste lands, and likes to skirt them 

 under the shade of hedge-rows. It may easily be 

 passed over, half hidden as it is among the herbage, 

 for its height only varies from some two or three 

 inches to six or eight ; but once seen there is no mis- 

 taking the double row of fan-shaped pinnae which form 

 its sterile branch. The lower half of the plant consists 

 of a smooth, erect, cylindrical, hollow stipes, whose 

 base is clothed by the brown membranous sheath which 

 had covered it while in bud. Above are the two 

 * Newman, History of British Ferns, third edition. 



