The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

crenulate moonwort, dainty moonwort, scalloped moonwort

botryche de virginie, common grapefern, rattlesnake fern

Pinnae

to 5 pairs, spreading, well separated, distance between 1st and 2d pinnae not or slightly more than between 2d and 3d pairs, basal pinna pair approximately equal in size and cutting to adjacent pair, broadly fan-shaped, undivided to tip, margins mainly crenulate to dentate, proximal pinnae with 1 or more shallow incisions, apex rounded, apical lobe linear to linear-cuneate, well separated from adjacent lobes, venation like ribs of fan, midrib absent.

to 12 pairs, usually approximate to overlapping, slightly ascending, distance between 1st and 2d pinnae not or slightly more than between 2d and 3d pairs, lanceolate, divided to tip.

Trophophore

stalk 0.5–7 mm;

blade yellow-green, oblong, 1-pinnate, to 6 × 2 cm, thin, herbaceous.

sessile;

blade pale green, 3–4-pinnate, to 25 × 33 cm, thin, herbaceous.

Sporophores

1–2-pinnate, 1.3–3 times length of trophophore.

2-pinnate, 0.5–1.5(–2) times length of trophophore.

Pinnules

lanceolate and deeply lobed, lobes linear, serrate, apex pointed, venation pinnate, midrib present.

2n

=90.

=184.

Botrychium crenulatum

Botrychium virginianum

Phenology Leaves appearing in mid to late spring, dying in late summer; in extremely dry years of shorter duration or not appearing at all. Leaves seasonal, appearing in early spring and dying in late summer.
Habitat Local in marshy and springy areas Common to abundant, especially in shaded forests and shrubby second growth, rare or absent in arid regions
Elevation 1200–2500 m (3900–8200 ft) 0–1500 m (0–4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; AL; AR; AZ; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Mexico; Central America; South America in Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru; Eurasia
Discussion

Botrychium crenulatum is commonly associated with B. simplex in California. In the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon it occurs with B. ascendens, B. lunaria, and B. minganense.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Botrychium virginianum is the most widespread Botrychium in North America.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 2. FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Ophioglossaceae > Botrychium > subg. Botrychium Ophioglossaceae > Botrychium > subg. Osmundopteris
Sibling taxa
B. acuminatum, B. ascendens, B. biternatum, B. boreale, B. campestre, B. dissectum, B. echo, B. gallicomontanum, B. hesperium, B. jenmanii, B. lanceolatum, B. lunaria, B. lunarioides, B. matricariifolium, B. minganense, B. montanum, B. mormo, B. multifidum, B. oneidense, B. pallidum, B. paradoxum, B. pedunculosum, B. pinnatum, B. pseudopinnatum, B. pumicola, B. rugulosum, B. simplex, B. spathulatum, B. virginianum
B. acuminatum, B. ascendens, B. biternatum, B. boreale, B. campestre, B. crenulatum, B. dissectum, B. echo, B. gallicomontanum, B. hesperium, B. jenmanii, B. lanceolatum, B. lunaria, B. lunarioides, B. matricariifolium, B. minganense, B. montanum, B. mormo, B. multifidum, B. oneidense, B. pallidum, B. paradoxum, B. pedunculosum, B. pinnatum, B. pseudopinnatum, B. pumicola, B. rugulosum, B. simplex, B. spathulatum
Synonyms Osmunda virginiana
Name authority W. H. Wagner: Amer. Fern J. 71: 21. (1981) (Linnaeus) Swartz: J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 111. (1801)
Web links