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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: Perennial
Habit: Herb , Fern
Leaf Shape: Oblong
Leaf Margin: Entire , Undulate
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom 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 , WY
Canada: NL , NS , ON , PE
Native Habitat: Savanna,Prairie/Meadow/Field

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light 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

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 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 Plants
FNA: Find Botrychium lunaria in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Botrychium lunaria

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-05
Research By: TWC Staff

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