Botrychium lunaria

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Botrychium lunaria
Botrychium lunaria (Vanoise).JPG
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Ophioglossales
Family: Ophioglossaceae
Genus: Botrychium
Species:
B. lunaria
Binomial name
Botrychium lunaria
Synonyms [4]
  • Blechnum racemosumBubani
  • Botrychium lunatum(Salisb.) Gray
  • Botrypus lunaria(L.) Rich.
  • Ophioglossum pennatumLam.
  • Osmunda lunariaL.
  • Osmunda lunataSalisb.

Botrychium lunaria is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae [5] known by the common name moonwort [6] or common moonwort. It is the most widely distributed moonwort, growing throughout the Northern Hemisphere across Eurasia and from Alaska to Greenland, as well as temperate parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

Description

This is a small plant growing up to 30 cm in height [7] : 10  from an underground caudex. The leaf is pinnate and is divided into a sterile frond and a fertile frond. The sterile frond of the leaf has 4 to 9 pairs of fan-shaped leaflets or pinnae. The fertile part of the leaf is very different in shape, with grapelike clusters of round sporangia producing spores by which it reproduces. As in other members of the family Ophioglossaceae, this species is eusporangiate, the sporangia derived from more than one initial cell and having sporangial walls more than one cell thick. Their spores develop into underground, mycotrophic gametophytes. [7] Moonworts die down at the end of summer, frequently lying dormant for several seasons before re-appearing. [8]

Distribution

Moonwort has a circumpolar distribution, being recorded in Eurasia, North America and Greenland. [9] [10] It also occurs in north Africa, the Himalayas, and temperate zones of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and South America. [1] [11] Although its distribution is patchy, and it may be locally rare, it is rated as of least concern in The IUCN Red List of threatened species. [1] There is evidence of some decline in the British Isles, [12] and in Ukraine, 189 loci were recorded, 118 before 1980, 58 after 1980 and 13 after 1980. [13] In Britain it is found mainly in the north and west, while in the lowlands of England it has been largely lost and the decline continues. [14] For example, in Worcestershire it had been recorded at seven sites in the past but now appears to be restricted to a single site. [15]

Habitat and ecology

Botrychium lunaria is a species which grows on relatively dry to moist short grassland, meadows, small woods, heaths and moors frequently on higher ground and rarely in forests, either deciduous or pine, or open woodland. It has also been recorded on dune slacks. Within Europe the common moonwort is a characteristic species of four habitats, namely acid Alpine and sub-Alpine grassland, southern Balkan montane grasslands, closed sand steppes in central Europe and grasslands in Finland and Scandinavia. It will also colonise brownfield sites such as spoil heaps and shale brings, this is especially notable in central Scotland. It has a preference for neutral to alkaline soils, often over limestone or chalk, or in other lime-rich habitats. It occurs up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). In the younger and adult states it is reliant on mycorrhizal relationships and this means that it can be vulnerable to disturbance of the soil. The presence of rotting plant material may be required for this fern to grow successfully. [1]

In Finland the plant suffers from modern agriculture, loss of rough pastures and eutrophication of glades and dry meadows [16] and its status is near threatened. [17]

Frond; background squares are 5mm across Botrychium lunaria frond.JPG
Frond; background squares are 5mm across

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fern</span> Class of vascular plants

The ferns are a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the branched sporophyte is the dominant phase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ophioglossaceae</span> Family of ferns

Ophioglossaceae, the adder's-tongue family, is a small family of ferns. In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016, it is the only family in the order Ophioglossales, which together with the Psilotales is placed in the subclass Ophioglossidae. The Ophioglossidae are one of the groups traditionally known as eusporangiate ferns. Members of the family differ from other ferns in a number of ways. Many have only a single fleshy leaf at a time. Their gametophytes are subterranean and rely on fungi for energy.

<i>Botrychium</i> Genus of ferns in the family Ophioglossaceae

Botrychium is a genus of ferns, seedless vascular plants in the family Ophioglossaceae. Botrychium species are known as moonworts. They are small, with fleshy roots, and reproduce by spores shed into the air. One part of the leaf, the trophophore, is sterile and fernlike; the other, the sporophore, is fertile and carries the clusters of sporangia or spore cases. Some species only occasionally emerge above ground and gain most of their nourishment from an association with mycorrhizal fungi.

<i>Sceptridium</i> Genus of ferns

Sceptridium is a genus of seedless vascular plants in the family Ophioglossaceae, closely allied to the genus Botrychium. It is also closely related to the genus Botrypus. Sceptridium species are commonly called the grape-ferns.

<i>Ophioglossum vulgatum</i> Species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae

Ophioglossum vulgatum, commonly known as adder's-tongue, southern adder's-tongue or adder's-tongue fern, is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae.

<i>Botrypus</i> North American species of fern

Botrypus virginianus, synonym Botrychium virginianum, sometimes called rattlesnake fern is a species of perennial fern in the adders-tongue family. It is monotypic within the genus Botrypus, meaning that it is the only species within the genus. It is called the rattlesnake fern in some parts of North America, due to its habit of growing in places where rattlesnakes are also found. Rattlesnake fern prefers to grow in rich, moist woods in dense shade and will not tolerate direct sunlight.

<i>Botrychium pumicola</i> Western North American species of moonwort

Botrychium pumicola, with the common name pumice moonwort, is a rare fern.

<i>Sceptridium multifidum</i> Species of fern

Sceptridium multifidum is a fern species in the Ophioglossaceae, known by the common names leathery grapefern and leathery moonwort.

<i>Botrychium ascendens</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium ascendens is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae known by the common names triangle-lobe moonwort and upswept moonwort. It is native to North America from British Columbia to northern California as well as parts of eastern Canada. It lives in different habitat types, including grassy riverside areas. This is very small plant growing from an underground caudex and sending one yellow-green leaf above the surface of the ground. The leaf is up to 6 centimeters tall and is divided into a sterile and a fertile part. The sterile part of the leaf has fan-shaped or wedge-shaped leaflets. The fertile part of the leaf is very different in shape, with tiny grapelike clusters of sporangia by which it reproduces.

<i>Botrychium crenulatum</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium crenulatum is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae known by the common names scalloped moonwort and dainty moonwort. It is native to North America from British Columbia to California to Wyoming, where it is uncommon throughout most of its range, appearing incidentally at scattered spots on wet meadows in coniferous forests and marshy areas such as swamps. This is very small plant growing from an underground caudex and sending one thin, shiny, yellow-green leaf above the surface of the ground. The leaf is up to about 6 centimeters tall and is divided into a sterile and a fertile part. The sterile part of the leaf has veined, fan-shaped leaflets with wrinkly edges. The fertile part of the leaf is very different in shape, with tiny grapelike clusters of sporangia by which it reproduces.

<i>Botrychium minganense</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium minganense is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae known by the common name Mingan moonwort. It is native to North America from Alaska and northern Canada to Arizona, where it is uncommon throughout most of its range, appearing at scattered spots in coniferous forests and marshy areas such as swamps.

<i>Botrychium montanum</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium montanum is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae known by the common names western goblin and mountain moonwort. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California to Montana, where it grows in the dark understory of coniferous forests and other moist wooded areas. This is very small plant growing from an underground caudex and sending one thin gray-green leaf above the surface of the ground. The leaf is less than 8 centimeters tall and is divided into a sterile and a fertile part. The sterile part of the leaf has irregularly shaped angled leaflets. The fertile part of the leaf is very different in shape, with grapelike clusters of sporangia by which it reproduces.

<i>Botrychium pinnatum</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium pinnatum is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae, known by the common name northwestern moonwort. It is native to North America from Alaska to northern Canada to California and Arizona, where it is generally scattered and uncommon, growing in coniferous forests and grassy meadows. This is very small plant growing from an underground caudex and sending one thin, shiny, green leaf above the surface of the ground. The leaf is less than 8 centimeters tall and is divided into a sterile and a fertile part. The flat sterile part of the leaf has oval to widely lance-shaped leaflets. The fertile part of the leaf is very different in shape, with grapelike clusters of sporangia by which it reproduces.

<i>Sceptridium dissectum</i> Species of fern

Sceptridium dissectum is a common fern in the family Ophioglossaceae, occurring in eastern North America. Like other plants in this group, it normally only sends up one frond per year. It has long been the subject of confusion because the frond presents in one of two forms, either the normal form that resembles other plants in the genus, or the skeletonized form.

<i>Cryptogramma crispa</i> Species of fern

Cryptogramma crispa, the parsley fern, is an Arctic–alpine species of fern. It produces separate sterile and fertile fronds, up to 30 cm (12 in) tall, and is a pioneer species on acidic screes.

<i>Botrychium boreale</i> A Northern Hemisphere species of moonwort

Botrychium boreale, commonly called northern moonwort, is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae. It is a short, single leaved rhizome that stands upright.

<i>Botrychium matricariifolium</i> Temperate Northern Hemisphere species of moonwort

Botrychium matricariifolium is a species of fern in the Ophioglossaceae family. It is referred to by the common names chamomile grape-fern, daisyleaf grape-fern, and matricary grape-fern. It is native to Europe and parts of eastern North America, including eastern Canada and parts of the United States.

<i>Botrychium paradoxum</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium paradoxum is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae known by the common name peculiar moonwort. It is native to North America, where there are scattered occurrences in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

<i>Sceptridium oneidense</i> Species of fern

Sceptridium oneidense, the blunt-lobed grapefern, is a fern species in the family Ophioglossaceae.

<i>Botrychium campestre</i> North American species of moonwort

Botrychium campestre is a fern species in Ophioglossaceae, commonly called prairiemoonwort, prairie dunewort, Iowa moonwort, or plains grapefern. It was first discovered in 1982 and described a few years later.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Christenhusz, M.; Chadburn, H.; Bento Elias, R.; et al. (2017). "Botrychium lunaria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T55696211A85441311. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Botrychium lunaria Common Moonwort". NatureServe. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. ↑  Under its treatment as Botrychium lunaria (from its basionym of Osmunda lunaria), this plant name was first published in Journal für die Botanik 1800(2): 110. 1801. "Name - !Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  4. ↑ Hassler, Michael. "Botrychium lunaria". World Ferns. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Christenhusz, Maarten J. M.; Zhang, Xian-Chun; Schneider, Harald (2011). "A linear sequence of extant families and genera of lycophytes and ferns" (PDF). Phytotaxa. 19: 7–54. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.19.1.2.
  6. ↑ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  7. 1 2 Stace, C. A. (2010). New Flora of the British Isles (Third ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9780521707725.
  8. ↑ Jermy, AC; Camus, JM (1991). The Illustrated Field Guide to Ferns and Allied Plants of the British Isles (1 ed.). London: Natural History Museum Publications. ISBN   0565011723.
  9. ↑ Grønlands flora. Tyge Wittrock Böcher (3. reviderede udgave ed.). København: P. Haase & Sons. 1978. ISBN   87-559-0385-1. OCLC   183098604.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. ↑ "Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  11. ↑ Welsh Ferns; Hutchinson & Thomas; Seventh edition; 1996
  12. ↑ "Online Atlas of the British and Irish flora: Botrychium lunaria". Biological Records Centre and Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  13. ↑ Ivan Parnikoza, Zbigniew Celka (June 2018). "Archive of findings of representatives of Ophioglossaceae in Ukraine". myslenedrevo.com.ua/. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Moonword". Plantlife. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  15. ↑ John Robinson (2012). "Moonwort Botrychium lunaria near Lodge Hill Farm, Wyre Forest". Worcestershire Record. 33. Worcestershire Biological Records Centre & Worcestershire Recorders: 63–66.
  16. ↑ Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit[Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 27. ISBN   951-0-23001-4.
  17. ↑ "Punaisen kirjan verkkopalvelu". punainenkirja.laji.fi. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
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