CHAPTER X. 
THE MOON WORT. 
Botrychium lunaria . 
A N unpretending little fern is the Moonwort ; 
but, nevertheless, exceedingly pretty. It is 
a by no means uncommon species, although, whilst 
very abundant in some districts, it is quite 
absent from others. The fronds grow to various 
heights, according to circumstances ; sometimes 
only three inches, at other times ten or more. 
As the bud of the frond grows up, it emerges 
from a sort of brown membraneous sheath, which 
envelops for some distance the lower part of the 
stem of the frond as in a case. The Moonwort 
grows from a curious, twisted, fleshy root, of a 
brittle substance, and succulent in its nature. 
From these fleshy roots springs up the thick 
stem of the frond. This consists of two divisions, 
a leafy and a fruitful frond. The leafy portion 
