Botrychium lunaria

Common Name: Moonwort from moon shaped leaflets.

Family: (Plants) various ferns of the genus Botrychium,esp B.lunaria, which has crescent-shaped leaflets; (US): grape fern.

Name Origin: Botyrichium, from the Greek botrus (botrys), "grape"; the Grape Ferns; lunaria, from the Latin luna, "moon "

Parts Used: leaves and root

Planet: Moon and Mercury

Element: Water

Metal: Silver

Deities: Diana, Hekate

Life Cycle: Spring, fades in June.

Zone: 2; Perennial from rhizome (rootstalk).

Habitat: Open turf or gravelly slopes, shores, meadows, woods, disturbed sites, usually on basic soils with calcium content. Found Greenland to Alaska; south to parts of the extreme northern United States to Eurasia, Alaska to Greenland. In Southern Hemisphere, South America and Australia. Prefers moderate light. In Maine found where mussel and clam shells leave deposits on shore.

Identification: Like most members of the genus Botrychium (Grape-ferns), B. lunaria is distinguished both by its succulent texture and fertile frond which appears above the sterile frond.  Cluster of golden-brown globular sporangia. Stem only about 2" long, hollow and fleshy.

Lunaria variety differs from the other succulent Botrychium species due to it possessing the sterile blade only once-pinnate (divided), with the segments distinctly fan-like (lunate) in shape.

Entire plant usually stands less than 3+" high.  Sterile frond a 5" single leaf closely spaced, subdivided into four to six pair, smooth edged; Leaf appears in spring, dying in latter half of summer; rootstalk upright; roots few, short, horizontally spreading.

Rare: Thinly found.

Magic & Folklore: Ancients regarded B. lunaria greatest magical power to be key to the time of it's gathering which must by moonlight. Used in incantations by necromancers, the mere mention of the word imbued the work with greater power.

Blacksmiths used it to unshod horses with ease.  Thieves carried it to make 'picking a lock' silent. Lunaria's crescent shaped leaflets were an ingredient used by alchemists to convert mercury into quicksilver.

According to the Doctrine of Signs, Moonwort cured lunacy, epilepsy, and sleep walking, if ailment was associated with the phases of the moon.

Folk Medicine: Mashed leaves in oil produced a salve to stop bleeding.  Botrychium plants boiled in red wine have been used as stomach medicines, tonics and to stop bleeding. There are references of its application for diarrhea and tuberculosis. A wash or poultice has been used regarding eye inflammations, sores and wounds, bruises, fractures, and skin dislocations.

Modern day medicinal use has fallen from favor.

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=BOLU

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botrychium_lunaria

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mnap/features/botrychium_lunaria.pdf

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mnap/features/botlun.htm