Flora of North America species comparison

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Botrychium hesperium

Botrychium pedunculosum

western moonwort

stalk moonwort
Pinnae

to 6 pairs, ascending, usually approximate or overlapping except in shade forms, distance between 1st and 2d pinnae not or slightly more than between 2d and 3d pairs, basal pinna pair commonly much larger and more divided than adjacent pair, lobed to tip, basal pair oblong to oblong-lanceolate with lobed margins, remainder broadly spatulate with entire margins or 1 or more shallow lobes, apex rounded, venation pinnate.

to 5 pairs, somewhat ascending, approximate to 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, ovate-rhombic to spatulate, lobed to tip, margin entire to irregularly lobed, apex rounded to acute, venation pinnate.
Trophophore

stalk 0–3(–10) mm, to 1/4 length of trophophore rachis;

blade ± gray-green, dull, oblong-linear to deltate, 1–2-pinnate, to 6 × 5 cm, firm.

stalk 8–26 mm, to 1.1 times length of trophophore rachis;

blade dull green, ovate-oblong to deltate-oblong, 1-pinnate, to 4.5 × 2 cm, leathery.
Sporophores

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

1–3-pinnate, 2–4 times length of trophophore.
2n

=180.

=180.

Botrychium hesperium

Botrychium pedunculosum
Phenology Leaves appearing in midspring, dying in early fall. Leaves appearing in late spring, dying in early fall.
Habitat Grassy mountain slopes, snow fields, road ditches with willows, and sand dunes Brushy secondary-growth habitats along streams and roadsides
Elevation 200–2800 m (700–9200 ft) 300–1000 m (1000–3300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; ID; MI; MT; UT; WY; AB; BC; ON; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
OR; AB; BC; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In the Rocky Mountains Botrychium hesperium grows often with B. echo, and in the Lake Superior region, with B. acuminatum and B. matricariifolium.

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

The common stalk on this species tends to be reddish brown. The presence of extra sporangia on the proximal pinnae is known only in Botrychium pedunculosum and B. ascendens.

Botrychium pedunculosum grows with other moonworts, B. lanceolatum, B. lunaria, B. minganense, and B. pinnatum. It has not been found in association with the rather similar and much more common B. hesperium.

Of conservation concern.

(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. Botrychium
Sibling taxa
B. acuminatum, B. ascendens, B. biternatum, B. boreale, B. campestre, B. crenulatum, B. dissectum, B. echo, B. gallicomontanum, 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. pinnatum, B. pseudopinnatum, B. pumicola, B. rugulosum, B. simplex, B. spathulatum, B. virginianum
Synonyms B. matricariifolium subsp. hesperium
Name authority (Maxon & R. T. Clausen) W. H. Wagner & Lellinger: Amer. Fern J. 71: 92. (1981) W. H. Wagner: Amer. Fern J. 76: 43, figs. 2, 7. (1986)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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