MOONWORT. 47 



MOONWORT. 



BOTRYCHIUM LUNARIA. 



[Swartz, Hooker and Arnott, Babington, Moore, and 



Newman.] 



(Fig. 28.) 



SYNONYMS. 



OSMUNDA LUNARIA. Linnmus. 



THE frond of this curious little fern rises early in 

 the spring, and in its early stage would scarcely sug- 

 gest the idea of a fern. An upright simple stem is 

 the first appearance presented, which is, in fact, a bud 

 inclosing the frond, or rather the two fronds, a fertile 

 and a barren one, clasping each other. The stem is 

 separated into two branches, one of which is spread- 

 ing, leafy, and lance-shaped. The pinnae are obliquely 

 fan-shaped or lunate segments, of a thick consistence, 

 and entire or crenate. The fruitful branch of the 

 stem is pinnate ; the pinnae generally corresponding 

 in number to those of the leafy branch on which dis- 

 tinct globular capsules are borne, which, when mature, 

 open and allow the seeds to escape. Occasionally, but 

 very rarely, two fertile branches are produced, and 

 there is a variety in which the pinnae are pinnatifid. 



On dry open moors, among harebells and heather, 



