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Upward-lobed Moonwort - Botrychium ascendens
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
This moonwort species is documented in Montana primarily from the northwest corner of the state. Almost all observations are on federally-managed lands. Most occurrences are small in size and occupy roadsides or other similarly open or disturbed habitats. As such, it is vulnerable to activities such as weed invasion, weed spraying and road maintenance.
- Details on Status Ranking and Review
Population Size
Score2 - Small: Generally 2,000-10,000 individuals.
CommentLikely over 2,000 plants in MT, though available population data are imprecise.
Range Extent
Score1 - Peripheral, Disjunct or Sporadic Distribution in MT: Widespread species that is peripheral, disjunct or sporadically distributed within MT such that it occurs in <5% of the state (<7,500 sq. miles or the combined area of Beaverhead and Ravalli Counties) or is restricted to 4-5 sub-basins.
Area of Occupancy
Score1 - Moderate: Generally occurring in 11-25 Subwatersheds (6th Code HUC’s).
Environmental Specificity
Score1 - Moderate: Species is restricted to a specific habitat that is more widely distributed or to several restricted habitats and is typically dependent upon relatively unaltered, good-quality habitat (C Values of 5-7).
Trends
Score0-3 - Population trends are unknown.
Threats
Score1 - Medium: 11-30% of the populations are being negatively impacted or are likely to be impacted by one or more activities or agents, which are expected to result in decreased populations and/or habitat quality and/or quantity.
Intrinsic Vulnerability
Score1-2 - Moderate to High Vulnerability.
Raw Conservation Status Score
Score
7 to 11 total points scored out of a possible 19.
General Description
Upward-lobed Moonwort is a small, perennial fern with a single aboveground frond. The frond is usually about 10 cm tall, yellow-green, and divided into two segments which share a common stalk. The mostly sterile segment is once pinnatifid with up to six pairs of strongly ascending, narrowly triangular pinnae which have deeply lacerate margins. The sterile segment often has a few sporangia on the margins of the pinnae or on small branches. The fertile segment is longer than the sterile segment, is branched, and bears grape-like sporangia. Spores germinate underground and develop into minute, subterranean, non-photosynthetic gametophytes which depend on an endophytic fungus for nourishment.
Phenology
Frond maturing in June-July.
Diagnostic Characteristics
Strongly ascending pinnae with lacerate margins and a yellow-green color are diagnostic of B. ascendens. It may be easily confused with B. crenulatum, B. minganense, and B. montanum. Reliable field determination of moonworts depends on the careful use of technical keys and on comparison with silhouette outlines of verified specimens. Identification can be complicated because there is often a high degree of morphological variability between individuals in a population and between populations of the same species; several species may grow together at the same site. Also, the few diagnostic characters may not be apparent in small plants.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
AK to CA, NV and WY (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 62
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Various mesic sites from low to moderate elevations, including roadsides and other disturbed habitats.
Ecological Systems Associated with this Species
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Farrar, Donald. 2011. Moonwort (Botrychium) Systematics. Ada Hayden Herbarium. Iowa State University.
Lesica, P. and K. Ahlenslager. 1989. Demographic monitoring of three species of Botrychium (Ophioglossaceae) in Waterton Lakes Park, Alberta. Unpublished 1989 progress report, 5 pp. plus appendices.- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Mantas, M. and R.S. Wirt. 1995. Moonworts of western Montana (Botrychium subgenus Botrychium). Flathead National Forest. 103 pp.
- Paris, C. A., F. S. Wagner and W. H. Wagner, Jr. 1989. Cryptic species, species delimitation, and taxonomic practice in the homosporus ferns. Amer. Fern J. 79:46-54.
- Vanderhorst, J.P. 1997. Conservation assessment of sensitive moonworts (Botrychium subgenus Botrychium) on the Kootenai National Forest. Unpublished report. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT 82 pp. plus appendices.
- Wagner, D.H. 1992. Guide to the species of Botrychium in Oregon, November 1992. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service 19 pp., plus figures.
- Wagner, Jr., W.H., F.S. Wagner, C. Haufler and J.K. Emerson. 1984. A new nothospecies of moonwort (Ophioglossaceae, Botrychium). Canadian Journal of Botany 62:629-634.
- Wagner, W. and F. Wagner. 1986. Three New Species of Moonworts (Botrychium Subgenus Botrychium) Endemic in Western North America. American Fern Journal 76 (2):3347
- Wagner, W. H. and F. S. Wagner. 1993. Ophioglossaceae. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 3+ vols. New York and Oxford. Vol. 2, pp. 85-106.
- Wagner, W. H., Jr. and F. S. Wagner. 1990. Notes on the fan-leaflet group of moonworts in North America with descriptions of two new members. American Fern Journal 80:73-81.
- Wagner, W.H., and F.S Wagner. 1981. New Species of Moonworts, Botrychium Subgenus. Botrychium, From American Fern Journal 71:20-30.
- Zika, P. F. 1994. A draft management plan for the moonworts Botrychium ascendens, B. crenulatum, B. paradoxum, and B. pedunculosum in the Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla, and Ochoco National Forests. Unpublished report. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, OR. 41 pages plus figures, tables and appendices.
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