Taxon Details

Botrychium neolunaria

North American moonwort

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Taxon Summary:

Botrychium neolunaria, commonly known as North American moonwort, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Ophioglossaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 1980 to 3415 meters. Botrychium neolunaria is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Botrychium neolunaria Stensvold & Farrar
Common Name: North American moonwort
Family:	Ophioglossaceae
Element Code:	PPOPH01280
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names: Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw.
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2024-08-06

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb

Blooming Period: Jun-Sep

Elevation:
1980 - 3415 meters
6495 - 11205 feet

General Habitats:

Meadows and seeps

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Mesic
Rocky (sometimes)

Notes

Notes: NEV Co. occurrence may not be correctly identified.
Threats: Possibly threatened by grazing.
Taxonomy: Previously confused with the European B. lunaria. The allotetraploid B. yaaxudakeit is similar but larger and has thick and dark pinnae that overlap the rachis.

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	4
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	5	71 %
Grazing	3	42%
Other	1	14%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	14%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	1	14%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					7
A	B	C	D	X	U
2	1	1	0	0	3

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	6
Recent <=20 Years	1

Presence:
Presumed Extant	7
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Idaho (ID), Maine (ME), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Montana (MT), Nevada (NV), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Dakota (ND), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), South Dakota (SD)*, Utah (UT), Vermont (VT)*, Washington (WA), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Modoc (MOD), Mono (MNO), Nevada (NEV), Tuolumne (TUO)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Davis Creek (4112063), Dunderberg Peak (3811913), Hobart Mills (3912042), Lee Vining (3711981), Mt. Bidwell (4112082), Warren Peak (4112042)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Name Change:	Non-Substantive Name Change: Botrychium lunaria to Botrychium neolunaria (2022)
Original Description:	Brittonia 69(2): 168 (2016)

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory