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[MarcoP]

Thank you for checking, Marco! Excuse me if this is a stupid question, I don't know much about alchemy, but is it possible that a "concept" of the plant existed in alchemy - related traditions that was separate from the actual plant? And so that folk names for the plant, whatever those may have been, existed in a separate sphere? Unfortunately the herb seems to have been of little interest outside of alchemy, even though especially the wild variety grows profusely in some regions.

Hi Koen,
I don't know much about alchemy either. Since most alchemical concepts (like the Stone or the Elixir) appear to be symbolical, it could be that the alchemical Lunaria is similarly removed from objective existence. 

Looking at manuscripts, it seems that there were many different types of Lunaria: for three of the four in the alchemical herbal a believable medical usage is given (the fourth has magical properties). Since the alchemical herbal appears to be close to popular lore, it could be that Lunaria was a folk name of some actual plants somewhere (Southern Italy?). Of course, it is well possible that other folk names were used in other regions.

About a different angle: it is  possible to speculate that Judas' 30 silver coins are related with the moon, because of silver and because of the number of days in a (lunar) month. I believe You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is far-fetched, but if the figure of Christ was influenced by older Sun-myths, it could be that Moon-myths also play a role. 
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. hints at a Sun/gold/good, Moon/silver/evil connection that could also be relevant.