April 18, 2026
HONESTY
Honesty (Lunaria biennis) has a variety of names. It is called Lunary and Moonwort, from the disk-like form of its great flat seed vessels, or their silvery and transparent brightness. This peculiarity accounts for its nicknames of White Satin-flower, Money-flower, and Silver Plate.
The Lunaria biennis is mentioned by Chaucer as one of the plants used in incantations:—
“And herbes coude I tell eke many on,
As Egremaine, Valerian, and Lunarie,
And other swiche, if that me list to tarie,
Our lampes brenning bothe night and day,
To bring about our craft if that we may,
Our fournies eke of calcination,
And of wateres albification.”
Drayton also refers to the virtues of the plant:—
“Enchanting Lunary here lies,
In sorceries excelling.”
The poet likewise tells us that this Lunary was considered efficacious in the cure of madness.
“Then sprinkles she the juice of Rue
With nine drops of the midnight dew,
From Lunarie distilling.”
There is a popular superstition that wherever the purple Honesty is found flourishing, the cultivators of the gardens are exceptionally honest.