HONESTY
Family CRUCIFERAE
Lunaria annua (syn. L. biennis)
Biennial
A native of Europe and of biennial habit; known
also as Satin-flower, Money-flower and Moon-wort.
The leaves are ovate and toothed and the stems
attain a height of from two to three feet, with
the flowers, about half an inch across and purple
in colour, borne in branching sprays.
There is also a white-flowered form in var. alba,
a crimson-flowered form in var. atrococcinea,
and a form of garden origin with larger flowers
than the type.
The flowers are followed by flat, oval seed-pods,
about two inches long, which, when the outer covering
has been shed, reveal attractive silvery discs
that are much prized, when dried, for use in winter
decoration, sometimes being dyed various colours.
Will grow well in any good soil in sun or partial
shade, the seed being sown in the late summer
for producing flowering plants for the following
season.
A pretty woodland plant.
Propagation is from seed.
The flowering season is in April and May.
See Also : Honesty
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