[ 3 l8 1
O S M U N D A Lunaria.
Moonwort.
C R Y P T OG AMI A Filices.
G en. Char. Capfules naked, globofe, two-valved.
Spec. Char. Stalk on the item, folitary. Frond
pinnate, folitary.
Syn. Ofmunda Lunaria. Linn. Sp. PI. 1519. Hud/.
FI. An. 4 4 9 . With. Bot. Arr. vol. 3. 4 6 . Relh.
Cant. 3 8 6 . Sibth. Ox. 2 66.
Lunaria minor. Rail Syn. 128.
I N plate 209 of the prefent publication we exhibited the
other only true Britifh fpecies of Ofmunda (for O. Spicant is a
Blechnum, and O. crifpa a Pteris), and we then promifed to
give the fru£lification in a future plate. All we know of that
part is the capfule, confiding of a fmall globe, feparating into
two equal hemifpheres, without any ring or bandage, and containing
innumerable feeds like fine dull.
The Moonwort, fo called from an obfcure crefcent-like Ihape
in its leaves, is by no means a common plant; it grows in both
moifl: and dry paftures, among grafs, and arrives at perfection
the end of June or early in July. Mrs. Kett of Seething favoured
us with this fpecimen from a meadow near her houfe.
The root confifts of thick fibres, from which arifes one fimple
ftem, or (as analogy requires it to be called) a frond, compofed
of a pinnate notched leaf, and a branching fpike of capfules.
Every part is fmooth, but not polilhed, of a pale green, the
capfules turning to a yellowilh brown as they ripen. Sometimes
the leaf is bipinnate, but that variety is rare.