Native Plants
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Botrychium lunaria
Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw.
Common Moonwort
Ophioglossaceae (Adder's-Tongue Family)
Synonym(s): Botrychium lunaria var. onondagense, Botrychium onondagense
USDA Symbol: BOLU
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)
The small size and short life of the frond probably cause this plant to be overlooked, but it has become very rare in recent decades and may no longer be present. (Ferns of Grey & Bruce Counties)
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb , Fern
Leaf Shape: Oblong
Leaf Margin: Entire , Undulate
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Not ApplicableBloom Notes: Non-flowering, sporulating plant. Sporulates Aug. Sporangial clusters with sessile or short-stalked sporangia resembling a bunch of greenish brown grapes borne on long-stalked sporophores.
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NM , NV , NY , OR , PA , SD , UT , VT , WA , WI , WYCanada: NL , NS , ON , PE
Native Habitat: Savanna,Prairie/Meadow/Field
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FAC | FAC | FACW | FACW | FAC |
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Botrychium lunaria in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Botrychium lunaria in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Botrychium lunaria
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-05Research By: TWC Staff