Botrychium lunaria : Moonwort

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Pteridophyta (spore bearing)

Class: Polypodopsida (fern class)

Family: Ophioglossaceae (Adder's-toungue Family)

Genera: Botrychium (Grape Ferns) (Gk. boytris= a bunch of grapes, refering to the grape like reproductive parts)

Species: lunaria (Lat. lunaris= of the moon, refering to half moon shape of the leaves)

English Name(s):

Moonwort,

First Nation Names:

Description:

Other ferns unroll thier new leaves but the Botruchiums (grape ferns) open them laterally.

Sporangia (spore producing organs) of Ophioglossaceae are spherical on a stock or at the base.

Natural History:

Ophioglossaceae (Adder's Toungue Family) is more primitive than the other ferns.

Can be distinguished from other ferns by development of leaves and spherical sporangia (spore producing organs)

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 4

Species: 70

North America:

Genera: 2

Species: 11

Yukon:

Genera: 1

Species: 6

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 3 (only one common)

Structure:

• Plant fleshy, 7-15cm tall, hairless, green

Leaves:

• Light green, One, pinnate, oblong, lobes, fan like and opposite.

Reproductive Parts:

• Sporangia (spore producing organs) at end of stalk at top of plant, much branched, looking like bunches of grapes.

Seed:

• Spores thick-walled.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Could be confused with other Botrychiums, but in our area B. lunaria is the only wide spread species.

Physiology:

• Gametophyte subterrantian ussually without chlorophyll.
• Roots associated with a endophytic mycorrhiza (symbiosis with fungi).

Life Cycle:

• Perennial from rhizome (rootstalk).

Seasonal Cycle:

• Plants sprouting in June. Spores produced by August, plant withering shortly after.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Open turfy or gravelly slopes, shores, meadows, woods, disturbed sites, ussually on basic soils.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• Ancients regaurded B. lunaria (moonwort) as a plant of magical power if it was gathered by moonlight.
• It was used by witches and necromancers in thier incantations.
• Silver was the metal used to influence Luna (the moon) because of her silvery colour.
• Some said that it would open locks and unshoe horses that chanced to tread upon it.
• The crecent shaped leaflets were said to indicate that this plant was governed by the moon and alchemists used it to convert quicksilver (mercury) into silver.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Botrychium plants have been used as stomach medicines and tonics to stop bleeding in cancer, tuberculosis, diarrhea, inflamation of the eye, ruptures, snake bite, sores and wounds.
• According to the Doctrine of Signs, Moonwort cured lunacy, epilepsy, and sleep walking, if associated with the phases of the moon.
• Leaves also boiled in red wine, this then drank to stop beeling, vomiting, and other fluxes and to heal blows, bruises, fractures, and dislocations.
• Leaves mashed in oil to produce a salve used to stop bleeding.

Food: