36 BOTRYCHIUM. 



BOTRYCHIUM., 



Sori naked, on a fertile, compoundly-branched , 

 spike, rising above a single, barren, leafy, 

 pinna (or frond, see Glossary). No in- 

 dusium. 



BOTRYCHIUM LUNARIA. (Common Moonwort.} 

 Fig. 28. Fertile spike from 3 to 6 inches : 

 single barren pinna shorter. Root of thick, 

 smooth, yellow, fibres. Growing solitarily. 

 A very singular-looking plant, stem hol- 

 low and succulent, throwing off, at about 

 a third upward, a single barren, hori- 

 zontally-turned, pinna, having on each 

 side very peculiar stalked pinnules (some- 

 what resembling the sliding wooden hand- 

 screens hawked about in the streets, rather 

 more than half unfurled), occasionally 

 deeply notched throughout to their base. 

 The stem itself, continuing upward, has, 

 near the top, other very short, alternate, 

 compound, offshoots, on which, or on the 

 spike itself, are arranged the thecse in 

 regular lines. Variations in both the 

 fertile and barren portions have been 

 found. End of April. Early deciduous. 

 Not uncommon on open heaths and pas- 

 tures, where the soil is peaty, but not very 

 wet. Difficult of cultivation. Should be 



