rRDIIP II FERTILE FRONDS PARTIALLY LEAF-LIKE, 

 UKUUf FERTILE PORTION UNLIKE REST OF FROND 



stumble upon it by chance or to trace it to its 

 chosen haunts. 



It is generally considered an inhabitant of moist 

 woods and meadows, though Mr. Pringle describes 

 it as " abundantly scattered over Vermont, its habi- 

 tat usually poor soil, especially knolls of hill pas- 

 tures," and Mr. Dodge assigns it to " dry fields." 

 It fruits in May or June. 



12. MOONWORT 



Botrychium Lunark 



Newfoundland to Connecticut and Central New York, in dry 

 pastures. Th ee inches to nearly one foot high. A very fleshy 

 plant. 



Sterile portion. — Oblong, cut into several fan-shaped fleshy 

 divisions, growing close to the stem about the middle of the plant. 



Fertile portion. — Branching, long-stalked, usually the same 

 height as or taller than the sterile portion. 



The Moonwort is another of our rare little plants. 

 It grows usually in dry pastures, fruiting in July. 



Formerly it was accredited with various magic 

 powers. Gathered by moonlight, it was said to 

 " do wonders." The English poet Drayton refers 

 to the Moonwort as " Lunary " : 



" Then sprinkled she the juice of rue 

 With nine drops of the midnight dew 

 From Lunary distilling.'' 



Gerarde mentions its use by alchemists, who 



called it Martagon. In the work of Coles, an early 



writer on plants, we read : " It is said, yea, and 



believed by many that Moonwort will open the 



84 



