48 MOONWORT. 



this fern is not uncommon throughout the United 

 Kingdom, but from its diminutive size it often escapes 

 observation. In England it is chiefly found in the 

 counties of Staffordshire, Surrey, and Yorkshire, and 

 also in the Isle of Wight. The curious crescent-shaped 

 pinnae of this fern, from which it derives its name 

 Moonwort, doubtless induced the older botanists and 

 alchemists to believe in its wondrous potency. From 

 what we can gather about these ancient superstitions, 

 the plants were to be gathered by the light of the full 

 moon, or all their powers were lost. It was supposed 

 that this plant possessed the power of opening locks, 

 loosening fetters, bars, and the shoes from off horses' 

 feet. Withers says, writing in 1622 : 



"There is an herb, some say, whose virtue's such, 

 It in the pasture, only with a touch, 

 Unshoes the new-shod steed." 



There is a tale told, that the Earl of Essex and his 

 followers being drawn up in a body upon White Down, 

 in Devonshire, near Tiverton, the shoes of their horses 

 fell off, and it was discovered that Moonwort was 

 growing on the heath. To us this story seems very 

 like that told of Tenterden Steeple and the Godwin 

 Sands. 



Our old friend Gerarde makes mention of the use of 

 this fern by alchemists, and as a remedy for "green 

 and fresh wounds." A large and succulent species of 

 Moonwort is boiled and eaten in the southern states 

 of America. 



Of all ferns this is one of the most easy to cultivate, 



