THE MOONWORT FERN 177 
There is another species of Avens, called the Herb 
Bennet (Geum urbanum), which frequents thickets 
and hedges. It is more erect than G. rivale, and its 
small yellow flowers do not droop. I have never 
seen this in flower about here until the middle of 
June. By the end of July you will be able to see 
lots of this plant in seed, and if you push by them 
they will hook themselves on to your clothes. Each 
carpel is crowned with a hardened style, terminating 
with a hook. The hook clings to the fur of rabbits 
and other animals, as well as the clothes of man, 
and thus the seed is carried long distances from the 
parent plants. In this remarkable way the seeds of 
the Wood Avens, or Herb Bennet, are dispersed and 
new ground is insured for future plants. 
I have often remarked that it is wise for a natur- 
alist on the prowl to sit down on some mossy bank 
or other inviting ground for an hour or so. I heard 
of some friends who were out hunting for what they 
might see the other day. They climbed a steep hill, 
and thought it would be good to sit down and 
rest after their exertions ; as a consequence, they 
spied what they might never have seen had they 
continued to walk—the Moonwort Fern (Botrychium 
lunaria), which, indeed, is a most interesting plant. 
Most ferns bear spores on the backs of the fronds, 
but this one has a split frond, one half of which bears 
semicircular or moon-shaped frondlets, while the 
other bears only spore cases, which are held upright 
and appear like clusters of small berries. As we sit 
quietly we may see many interesting things—beetles, 
grasshoppers, spiders, ants, bees, wasps, flies, and in- 
numerable other creatures, as well as plants. If we 
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