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THE FERN PARADISE. 
10 . 
THE MOONWORT. 
Botrychium lunaria. 
Plate 1, Fig. 9. 
N unpretending little Fern is the Moon- 
wort ; but, nevertheless, exceedingly 
pretty. It is a by no means uncommon 
although, whilst very abundant in some 
districts, it is quite absent from others. The 
frond grows to various heights, according to 
circumstances; being 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 envelopes 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 sub¬ 
stance, and succulent in its nature. From this 
fleshy root springs up the thick stem of the 
frond. This consists of two divisions, a leafy and 
a fruitful frond. The leafy portion is carried 
