AOTRYCHIUM I.UNARIA. 
8fi 
BOTRY'CHIUM LUNA'RIA. 
Tars is known as Common Moonwort, Small Lunary 
and Moonwort. 
Its root is composed of a slender tap-root, from which 
issue numerous simple, cylindrical, yellowish fibres, like 
those of a Hyacinth, and proceeding in a whorl, or 
circle, from the tap-root, but spreading horizontally in 
the soil. Stem simple, cylindrical, pale green, erect, 
nine inohes high, with a few large, brown, sheathing 
scales at the bottom. It has only one leaf springing 
from about the middle of the stem, which leaf has five 
or six pairs of fan-shaped, pale milky-green, short- 
stalked leaflets, and a terminal leaflet of the same form. 
Each leaflet is scolloped, or toothed, on the edge, and, 
usually, more or less lobed. The stem ends in a doubly- 
compound spilte of small, round, light brown capsules. 
These are nearly stalkless, and are arranged somewhat 
over-lapping each other on one flat side of the stalk, or 
receptacle. Spores oval, smooth, and, usually, jointed 
together in pairs. 
There are three varieties, viz :—1. with several stalks 
and leaves ; 2. with leaves much more cut and jagged 
than usual; and 3. with the leaflets divided into 
leafits. 
Its usual birth-places are mountain meadows and 
pastures. It is not common, though found in various 
parts of England, Ireland, and Scotland. It has been 
collected in Westmorland; at Mear Bank, by Sykes 
