Re: VMS -- Botany (f94r) Botrychium lunaria,Finland

["Dana F. Scott" <dfscott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Philip,
   Folio 100 verso contains a collection of sprigs in what is referred to as the
Pharmaceutical section of the VMS. A number of these appear to be miniature versions
of plants found in the Herbal section. It is not yet clear to me which plant Hugh
O'Neill was referring to? Where did you see the reference? Mary D'Imperio on p.114 in
"The Voynich Manuscript -- An Elegant Enigma" includes a drawing of Lunaria from
Ashmole ("Theatrum Cemicum Britannicum", p.348).

Interesting English Verse:
http://www.library.upenn.edu/etext/science/ashmole/362.html
http://www.library.upenn.edu/etext/science/ashmole/130a.html

Thank you for the reference on folio 35 verso concerning Ophioglossaceae fern. I will
see what I can dig up.

http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/gallery_query?q=Ophioglossaceae

While I am now a bit familiar with Linnaeus, my knowledge of European folklore is very
limited, though I do find it very interesting.

Regards,
Dana Scott

Philip Marshall wrote:

> I am fascinated. In 1944, Hugh O'Neill identified an illustration of
> Botrychium lunaria on folio 100 verso -- how do they compare? (I don't
> have copies of either one on hand at the moment.) I have also wondered
> myself if the plant on folio 35 verso might be an Ophioglossaceous fern as
> well. Is there a widespread folk tradition in Europe identifying
> Botrychium lunaria with the moon? Apart from the English common name
> "moonwort", the Latin binomial, penned by a Swede, Carolus Linnaeus,
> suggests that indeed there may be.
>
> Philip Marshall
>
> On Fri, 4 May 2001, Dana F. Scott wrote:
>
> > It seems to me that Botrychium lunaria is a reasonable match for this
> > plant with its trophophore lamina leaf-like opposing appendages. Who
> > would believe this is a fern? This Moonwort (Ophioglossaceae) is also
> > referred to as grapefern. You can find it in the beautiful Siitama
> > meadow in Finland. Except for the 'grapes' which are not a perfert match
> > I think we are on the right track here.
> >
> > Photo:
> > http://www.terra.hu/haznov/jpg/Botrychium.lunaria.1.html
> > http://ifdf.free.fr/containers/detail/1998070506_gen.htm
> > http://murman.ru/flora/data/1200034.html
> > http://www.com-nature.com/~fougere-fern/libraryGB/fernpagesGBtext/botrycheGB.htm
> >
> > http://www.em.ca/garden/nat_botrychium_lunaria.html
> > http://www.terra.hu/haznov/htm/Botrychium.lunaria.html
> > http://herba.msu.ru/images/Ophioglossaceae/Botrychium_Sw./lunaria_Sw./1.jpg
> >
> > http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/c/hdw130299os.jpg
> >
> > Botrychium species: (Siitama meadow in Finland; page down for species
> > selections)
> > http://www.helsinki.fi/~korpela/botrychium_meadow.html
> >
> > Botrychium matricariifolium:
> > http://www.helsinki.fi/~korpela/BOTRMATR.HTML
> >
> > Description:
> > http://www.gardenbed.com/B/6779.cfm
> > http://www.lineone.net/dictionaryof/animalsplants/m0049532.html
> > http://www.or.blm.gov/surveyandmanage/MR/VascularPlants/section4.htm
> >
> > Illustration:
> > http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/lindman/511.jpg
> >
> > Scientific Classification:
> > http://www.bf.uni-lj.si/ag/fito/sistemat/rastline/8Botrychium.htm
> >
> > Regards,
> > Dana Scott
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Philip Marshall
> Yale University
> School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
>
> tel: +1(203)436-2137
> email: philip.marshall@xxxxxxxx or pmm8@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "The pig was not merely a pig but a creature bound among other things to
> the fence, the dandelion, and a very special definition of property."
>                                         -William Cronon