? Obs. Also 6–9 in Latin form lunaria. [ad. med.L. lūnāria, f. L. lūna moon.] a. The garden plant called HONESTY, Lunaria biennis. b. The fern called MOONWORT, Botrychium Lunaria.
Parkinson (1640 Theat. Bot., 508) says that ‘there are so many herbes called by the name of Lunaria that it would make any man wonder how so many should be called.’ The magical powers referred to in quots. 1642 and 1679 seem to have been ascribed to the fern.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 247. And herbes koude I telle eek many oon As Egrimoyne, Valerian, and lunarie.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., iii. in Ashm. (1652), 39. Vervaine, Lunara [sic], and Martagon.
1548. Turner, Names of Herbes (1881), 85. Lunaria is of two kyndes, the one is called in latine Lunaria maior…. It maye be called in englishe great Lunari. Some cal it Shabub. The other kinde is called in latin Lunaria minor, which may be called in englishe litle Lunary or Maye Grapes.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. lxxxv. 328. The small Lunarie springeth foorth of the ground with one leafe like Adders toong.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, etc., 127. Then sprinkles she the iuice of Rue … With nine drops of the midnight dewe, From Lunarie distilling.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. v. 261. They say of the herb Lunaria ceremoniously gathered at some set times, that laid upon any lock, it makes it flie open.
1679. Hist. Jetzer, Pref. 2. The Fathers of that Society have the true Lunaria, which will open the strictest, strongest Locks or Fetters wherewith Conscience can be restrained.
1767. J. Abercrombie, Ev. Man Own Gard. (1803), 703/2. Lunaria, moon-wort or honesty.
1881. Sat. Rev., No. 1325. 374. The genus botrychium, the moon-fern or lunary, to the magical powers of which several of the Elizabethan poets bear testimony.
attrib. 1591. Lyly, Endym., IV. i. You knowe that on the Lunary bancke sleepeth Endimion.
