alves.
Sterile segment of the frond ternately or pinnately divided or compound.
Veins free. Spores copious, sulphur yellow. (The name in Greek means a
cluster of grapes, alluding to the grape-like clusters of the sporangia.)

(1) MOONWORT. _Botrychium Lunaria_

Very fleshy, three to ten inches high, sterile segment subsessile, borne
near the middle of the plant, oblong, simple pinnate with three to eight
pairs of lunate or fan-shaped divisions, obtusely crenate, the veins
repeatedly forking; fertile segment panicled, two to three pinnate.

[Illustration: Moonwort _Botrychium Lunaria_]

[Illustration: Moonwort. _Botrychium Lunaria_. Details]

The moonwort was formerly associated with many superstitions and was
reputed to open all locks at a mere touch, and to unshoe all horses that
trod upon it. "Unshoe the horse" was one of the names given to it by the
country people.

"Horses that feeding on the grassy hills,
Tread upon moonwort with their hollow heels,
Though lately shod, at night go barefoot home
Their maister musing where their shoes be gone."

In dry pastures, Lake Superior and northward, but rare in the United
States. Willoughby, Vt., where the author found a single plant in 1904, and
St. Johnsbury, Vt. Also New York, Michigan and westward.

In England said to be local rather than rare. Sometimes called Lunary.

"Then sprinkled she the juice of rue
With nine drops of the midnight dew
From Lunary distilling."
DRAYTON.

(2) LITTLE GRAPE FERN. _Botrychium simplex_

Fronds two to four inches high, very variable. Sterile segment
short-petioled, usually near the middle, simple and roundish or pinnately
three to seven lobed. Veins all forking from the base. Fertile segments
simple or one to two pinnate, apex of both segments erect in the bud.

In moist woods and fields, Canada to Maryland and westward; Conway and
Plainfield, Mass., Berlin and Litchfield, Conn. Rare. According to Pringle
it is "abundantly scattered over Vermont, its habitat usually poor soil,
especially knolls of hill pastures." May or June.

(3) LANCE-LEAVED GRAPE FERN

_Botrychium lanceolatum_

BOTRYCHIUM ANGUSTISEGMENTUM

Frond two to nine inches high, both sterile and fertile segments at the
top of the common stalk. Sterile segment triangular, twice pinnatifid, the
acute lobes lanceolate, incised or toothed, scarcely fleshy, resembling
a very small specimen of the rattlesnake fern. Fertile segment slightly
overtop