Botrychium Lunaria, Swartz . 
Osmunda Lunaria, Linnceus . 
MOONWORT. 
Root — Long and wiry, with numerous branches. 
Frond — Three to nine inches in length, divided above 
into a frond-like and fruit-bearing branch ; the stipes seldom 
divided below, round, succulent, sheathed at the base. The 
frond-like branch is pinnatifid ; the pinnae alternate, fan- 
shaped : their margin usually crenate, occasionally deeply 
cut into narrow segments, which not seldom betray their 
true nature by bearing spore-cases. The fruit-bearing 
branch is longer, pinnate, the pinnae alternate, the lowest 
pinnatifid. 
Veins — Costae wanting; the veins, simple or branched, 
radiating from the base. 
Fructification — Usually borne by the terminating 
branch ; which consists of a panicle, bearing on its inner 
side sessile, globular spore-cases, which, when ripe, burst 
vertically in twain. 
Habitat — Old mine hillocks, and dry turf, or open boggy 
places. Late in the summer the base of the stem swells, 
and assumes a bulbous character, the plant of next year 
being formed within it. This state has commenced in the 
larger plant of our Plate. 
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