Botrychium lunaria, lunary or common moonwort has a long history of use in folklore and medicine. It's found in the alchemy of Maria the Jewess in the 1st century AD. She calls it the white herb growing on small mountains, and gives it great praise.
Botrychium lunaria connects to science, folklore, magic, alchemy and traditional medicine. A member of the family Ophioglossaceae, the adder-tongue ferns, this perennial is particular in biological characteristics and meaning.
In folklore, moonwort holds a connection to the moon due to its leaves like lunar crescents. Harvesting this plant under a full moon heightens its healing powers. Moonworts die down at the end of summer and may lie dormant for several seasons.
The moonwort said to make horses lose horseshoes if it's stepped on. Horseshoes are iron, which counteracts or protects against harmful magic in lore, so it could be a case of eldritch magnetic repulsion. This industrious plant can also open locks.
Herbalists and alchemists seek out moonwort for medicinal or mystic properties. Spagyria is the alchemy of plants, promoted by Paracelsus. In nature magic moonwort enhances intuition, gives protection, and can reveal hidden secrets in the night.
According to historian Raphael Patai the herb of Maria ...
" ... possesses a peculiar significance in alchemy because of its imagined "impregnation with a celestial vitality," and which was believed to be derived from the moon, whence its name, moonwort.
"All kinds of healing and magical qualities were attributed to it, and it represented the white stage in the Great Work, that is, the first color transformation from the basic black, followed by yellow and red. The white and red fumes (or smokes) signify the mercury and sulfur of the philosophers."
A symbolic interpretation of the herb corresponds to the five planets known in ancient times: Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. These together with sun and moon can be seen with the naked eye and are the celestial bodies used by philosophers.
Medicinal Properties
Medicinal properties of Botrychium lunaria come from a trove of bioactive compounds. These include the familiar flavonoids and terpenoids, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The medicinal compounds are of interest to practitioners and researchers exploring natural remedies. Moonwort extracts show potential in supporting respiratory health and improving digestion, traits already known to herbalists for centuries.
In history, various parts of the plant are used for a number of therapeutic purposes. The moonwort is a remedy for menstrual cramps and an external treatment for wounds and sores.
Scientific Classification and Characteristics
Botrychium lunaria is found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It enjoys moist, shaded areas and lots of space, preferring higher ground or alpine terrain. Moonwort can be found in woodlands, meadows, and occasionally in disturbed sites.
One of its distinguishing features is lobed leaves, resembling a delicate fan or a small, green moon or crescent. The height of the plant typically ranges between 10 - 30 cm (4 - 12 in). It's not considered edible.
This species reproduces via spores rather than seeds, a characteristic aligning it more closely with ferns than flowering plants. The spore-bearing structures, or sori, are contained in a distinct cluster at the tip of the fertile fronds.
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