Why is the plant, Lunaria annua, referred to by the common name,
Honesty?
I realize this plant uses many common names, most of which are
self-explanatory, but I cannot find any reason why it was called
Honesty.  The answer should include any background, folklore,
medicinal, geographical, psychological, etc. reasons for some past
people to have called this plant by this common name.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 03 Jun 2003 13:07 PDT

Apparently the name "honesty" refers to the "frankness" of the plant
in displaying its seeds in their pods.

"...the seed pods of honesty, so named because the seeds show through
the transparent pods."

http://www.latimes.com/extras/homeandgarden/garden_wk16.html

Here is a similar explanation from the Oxford English Dictionary (I
have transcribed this from my printed copy, since I could not find the
material online):

"Honesty
The popular name of Lunaria Biennis, a cruciferous plant with large
purple (sometimes white)  flowers and flat round semi-transparent pods
(whence the name) commonly cultivated in gardens. Also applied to
other species of Lunaria."

As for "background, folklore, medicinal, geographical, psychological,
etc. reasons," you may want to consider the amount of time that a
Researcher will be likely to spend in gathering so much information,
and consider repricing your multi-part question.

Here you'll find the Google Answers pricing guidelines:

http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html

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Clarification of Question by gatita-ga on 03 Jun 2003 14:11 PDT

Dear Pinkfreud,
You've answered my question.  I did not mean that I needed all kinds
of background information, just some sort of reasoning, which you
gave.  Thanks for your swift help.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 03 Jun 2003 14:58 PDT

I'm glad the material I posted was useful. Would you like me to post
the information I found about the plant's name as the official answer
to your question?

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Clarification of Question by gatita-ga on 03 Jun 2003 18:48 PDT

Pink Freud,
This portion of your answer is all that's necessary and may be posted
as the official answer to my question:

>>>>Apparently the name "honesty" refers to the "frankness" of the
plant
in displaying its seeds in their pods.
 
"...the seed pods of honesty, so named because the seeds show through
the transparent pods."<<<<

BTW - you further went on to refer to Lunaria biennis which is an old,
invalid name for Lunaria annua.

Thanks.

Thank you for accepting my remarks as the answer to your question. I
am reposting the portion that you found useful, and I've added some
more material that I hope will be of interest.

Apparently the name "honesty" refers to the "frankness" of the plant
in displaying its seeds in their pods.
 
"...the seed pods of honesty, so named because the seeds show through
the transparent pods."
 
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/extras/homeandgarden/garden_wk16.html 

Here is another reference, indicating that the plant has been called
"honesty" since Tudor times:

"LUNARIA BIENNIS ALBA VARIEGATA White Variegated Honesty - Takes its
name from the round 'moonlike' seed pods. Known by Gerard as the White
Satin Flower thus known in Britain since as least 1595. Branching
spires of white flowers in summer. A biennial and good for light,
shade and poor soil, self seeds. Young plants do not show variegated
foliage until the second year."

The Cowper and Newton Museum Complete Plants Catalogue
http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/cnm/plantscatalog/plantscatalog6.html

While I was searching for information related to Lunaria annua, I came
across this essay which deals with a possible commercial use:

"High erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR) is one of the most important oilseed
crops in Europe. Its oil find many outlets among others in lubricants.
Rapeseed has become so important because of some very positive
features. The oil production of 1270 kg per ha, the suitability of the
meal as feed stock and the subsidy allow a low kg price of the oil (<
$ 0.7). In spite of its popularity rapeseed has some disadvantages.
Rapeseed suffers from serious seed shattering. Because many different
rapeseed varieties have been developed (among others genetic modified
species) and rapeseed is a cross-pollinating species, these varieties
can not be grown in the same region. The serious seed shattering
enhances these problems due to volunteer plants. These drawbacks of
Rapeseed have been recognised and have stimulated the search for
alternatives. Crambe abyssinica and Lunaria annua appeared to be the
most promising ones. However, both plant species need major
improvement before they can be cultivated commercially."

Dainet
http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:8InKiGP4OpsJ:www.dainet.de/fnr/ctvo/lubricants/Marvin.doc+%22lunaria+oil%22&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8

Lunaria oil may also have medicinal properties:

"Lunaria annua L. is a biennial garden flower which produces
characteristic silver seed capsules often used in dry flower
arrangements. The seed contains about 36% oil with an unusual
distribution of fatty acids. The main feature is the simple lipid
profile, the main constituents of which comprise 24% oleic acid
(C18:1), 47% erucic acid (C22:1) and 21% nervonic acid (C24:1).
Nervonic acid is unusual in plant seed oils, but is present throughout
mammalian nerve tissue--hence its name. Nervonic acid and its
derivatives can be produced from lunaria oil by conventional
techniques. A UK company, Croda Universal, is investigating its use in
a variety of applications including its use in pharmaceuticals. Since
nervonic acid is an important constituent of brain and membrane
phospholipids, it is vital that the body has an adequate provision of
this fatty acid. If, for any reason, the body cannot make this lipid,
then a dietary source is indicated. Two such situations are under
active investigation; multiple sclerosis (MS), where there are
indications that there is inadequate provision of nervonic acid; and
premature birth, where the infant no longer benefits from maternal
nutrition. It is of interest to note that human breast milk contains
nervonic acid and that MS has been linked to the use of formula feeds.
It is suggested that, breast milk appears to confer a resistance to
developing the disease. Croda Universal have filed patents on the
treatment of MS with nervonic acid and the use of nervonic acid as a
lipid supplement for babies. Products containing lunaria oil are in
clinical development and are expected to complete the initial phases
of development within 2 to 3 years."

Purdue University
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-021.html#LUNARIA

Other, less scientific, uses:

"Honesty - (Lunaria spp.) Folk Names: Lunary, Money Plant, Silver
Dollar

Magickal Uses: When carried or scattered about will chase away all
'monsters'. Use in spells for prosperity. Carry in the pocket or purse
or place under a green candle and burn to the socket."

Cathbodua Herbal
http://www.angelfire.com/journal/cathbodua/Herbal/HerbalH.html

"Historically called Honesty, Moonwort or White Satin, this curious
herb was used to treat gout. The fragrant flowers of the money plant
are purple or white, and appear in clusters during the late spring and
early summer. Once the seed pods have matured and dried on the plant
rub away the outer casing to reveal white satin discs resembling
silver coins. Money plant makes a fine addition to dried arrangements
and wreaths."

Plimoth-on-Web
http://www.plimoth.org/Library/library/sh-seed4.htm 

Here are a few more interesting links related to Lunaria annua:

Garden Pursuits
http://www.gardenpursuits.com/perennials/lunaria/lunaria2000.html

Plants Database
http://plantsdatabase.com/go/794/

Botany.com
http://www.botany.com/lunaria.html

Old House Web
http://www.oldhouseweb.net/gardening/garden/01700585.shtml
 
Search terms used:

"lunaria annua"
"honesty"
"origin"
"meaning"
"called"
"name"

Thanks for asking an interesting question (it is always nice to be
able to learn something during my research!) If anything I've said is
unclear, or if a link does not function, please request clarification;
I'll be glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud