Honesty (Lunaria), a genus of plants of the natural order Cruciferae, of which two species, natives of the south of Europe, L. annua or biennis and L. rediriva, have long been cultivated in British flower-gardens, on account partly of the beauty of their flowers, and partly of the curious appearance of their large flat seed-pouches (silicles), or rather their large oval membranous dissepiments, which are very persistent, resemble polished films of mother-of-pearl, and are frequently used as mantelpiece and table ornaments.
The origin of the English name is doubtful. Some of the older English poets mention the plant as Lunarie—'in sorceries excelling;' for it was reckoned among herbs potent for magic.