Imagine my surprise to learn that Edgewood has about five species of moonwort (i.e. the genus Botrichium) growing in the grassy patch next to the driveway (there’s only one species in Britain). Some probably haven’t emerged yet. And there’s even more in the nearby – and clearly inappropriately named – Sunshine Meadow. Prefer Moonbeam Meadow. How could you not?
Botrichium virginianum – hasn’t really woken up yet.Still performing its Moon Salutation routine.
B. pinnatum – much more alert, but still
clasping on to its clutch of spore pouches.
On the full moon it will throw out its
pinnae and cast its spores out into the world.
B. lunaria – the British moonwort abroad.
(I won’t accept the opposing point of view that
the moonworts in Britain are ambassadors
for the Canadian moonworts).
And surely the most moony of all the moonworts, I feel.
2 comments:
great---- did you know there is another blogspot called moonwort in Danish maybe?
Wher edo you find moonwort in England?
So there is, but its all style and no content - ha!
Where in the UK? Oho! look no further than
http://www.bsbimaps.org.uk/atlas/map_page.php?spid=248.0&sppname=Botrychium%20lunaria&commname=Moonwort
and then do look further.
Like I say, it grows in *special* places. Technically though, somewhat dry sites, not too rich or too acid, with short vegetation (it is only little and will get shaded out by great galumphing things).
One of the things I like about this comments thing is that I don't always know who the comment is from. Is this my Auntie Louise, or loony Lou of Colinton? Or some random Louise. I know it isn't Louise Ross, cos she would know *exactly* where to find moonwort... and she would never go to England.
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