DOCSLIB.ORG

On the Kootenai National Forest

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
On the Kootenai National Forest CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT OF SENSITIVE MOONWORTS (OPHIOGLOSSACEAE; BOTRYCHIUM SUBGENUS BOTRYCHIUM) ON THE KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST Prepared by: Jim Vanderhorst Montana Natural Heritage Program State Library P.O. Box 201800 1515 East Sixth Avenue Helena, Montana 59620-1800 Prepared for: Kootenai National Forest Supervisors Office 506 U.S. Highway 2 West Libby, Montana 59923 Agreement No. 11011454002 February 1997 © 1997 Montana Natural Heritage Program This document should be cited as follows: J. Vanderhorst. 1997. Conservation assessment of sensitive moonworts (Botrychium subgenus Botrychium) on the Kootenai National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 82 pp. plus appendices. i SUMMARY Over one hundred occurrences of six sensitive or proposed sensitive Botrychium species are documented on the Kootenai National Forest. These include most of the largest known populations of B. minganense and B. montanum in the state and a few large populations of B. crenulatum. There are also a few small occurrences of three extremely rare species, B. ascendens, B. paradoxum, and B. pedunculosum. The sensitive Botrychium species occupy a variety of moist habitats distributed across the glaciated landscapes of Forest; mostly western red cedar and western hemlock habitat types in the western part and mostly deciduous wetland habitat types in the eastern part. Primary potential threats to populations include direct impacts of logging and road building to upland occurrences and indirect and cumulative effects of these activities to lowland occurrences. USFS Region 1 sensitive status is proposed for B. pedunculosum which was found for the first time in the Region on the Forest in 1996, and current sensitive status is recommended retained for the other five species. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many Kootenai National Forest employees shared their data and knowledge, helped locate and survey moonwort populations, and assisted in many other ways. I give special thanks to Mike Arvidson, Terese Bielak, Annie Deuker, Leslie Ferguson, Kara Hungate, Lou Kuennen, Dan Leavell, Roy Lofts, Mike Lolley, Jon Reny, Toby Spribille, and Jack Triepke. At the Montana Natural Heritage Program special thanks go to Bonnie Heidel for coordination and technical contributions, Cedron Jones for GIS mapping, John Caratti for assistance with ecodata analysis, and Margaret Beer, Anne Dalton, Debbie Dover, and Katie Schletz for data management. Thanks are also extended to Peter Zika and Warren H. Wagner for identifying silhouette and color photocopies of the moonworts, to Larry Evans for identifying associated mushrooms, and to Joe Elliott for identifying associated mosses. This project was made possible through challenge cost-share agreements between the Kootenai National Forest and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 1 CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION............................................................................... 3 LIFE HISTORY .............................................................................................................................. 5 MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONS..................................................................................................... 6 METHODS...................................................................................................................................... 8 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Summary statistics............................................................................................................. 11 Genus communities........................................................................................................... 11 Habitat characterization..................................................................................................... 13 Associated mushrooms and mosses .................................................................................. 14 Mycorrhizae and vegetative propagules............................................................................ 15 French Creek monitoring transects.................................................................................... 15 STATUS REVIEWS Botrychium ascendens....................................................................................................... 18 Botrychium crenulatum .................................................................................................... 26 Botrychium minganense ................................................................................................... 36 Botrychium montanum ...................................................................................................... 47 Botrychium paradoxum..................................................................................................... 55 Botrychium pedunculosum ................................................................................................ 63 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION Status recomendations....................................................................................................... 70 Threats to populations ....................................................................................................... 71 Interim management guidelines ........................................................................................ 71 Conclusion......................................................................................................................... 74 LITERATURE CITED.................................................................................................................. 77 APPENDIX A: AREAS AND HABITATS SEARCHED (DELETED) APPENDIX B: ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORDS AND MAPS (DELETED) APPENDIX C: ECODATA (DELETED) iii APPENDIX D: FRENCH CREEK MONITORING TRANSECTS (DELETED) iv APPENDIX E: MOONWORT COLLECTION GUIDELINES APPENDIX F: ASSOCIATED FUNGI APPENDIX G: ASSOCIATED MOSSES APPENDIX H: SENSITIVE PLANT SCORING CRITERIA APPENDIX I: PHOTOGRAPHIC SLIDES (DELETED) LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Occurrences of sensitive Botrychium species on the KNF ............................................. 11 Table 2: Moonwort genus communities on the KNF.................................................................... 12 Table 3: Documented habitats of sensitive Botrychium spp. on the KNF .................................... 13 Table 4: Summary of intraseasonal monitoring results at French Creek ...................................... 16 Table 5: Two years monitoring results from French Creek........................................................... 17 Table 6: Current and recommended state ranks and USFS status ................................................ 70 Table 7: "Significant" sensitive Botrychium occurrences on the KNF ......................................... 73 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Distribution of Botrychium ascendens........................................................................... 20 Figure 2: Distribution of Botrychium crenulatum......................................................................... 28 Figure 3: Distribution of Botrychium minganense........................................................................ 39 Figure 4: Distribution of Botrychium montanum .......................................................................... 49 Figure 5: Distribution of Botrychium paradoxum......................................................................... 57 Figure 6: Distribution of Botrychium pedunculosum.................................................................... 65 v INTRODUCTION This report summarizes current knowledge on the distribution, ecology, and conservation status of sensitive species of moonworts (Botrychium spp.) on the Kootenai National Forest (KNF). It is based on information gathered in the field by KNF botanists and myself with information from the literature, from related studies in other states, and from Montana Natural Heritage Program sources. The priorities which were identified for this project were to: • Resolve questions concerning identification, location, and population size and condition of known occurrences of sensitive Botrychium species. • Locate and survey new populations, and evaluate biological factors conditioning the results of fieldwork • Characterize the habitats and microhabitats of each species • Assess conservation status and threats to populations of each species and recommend interim management guidelines. Moonworts are primitive ferns with some of the highest chromosome numbers in the plant kingdom, which are characterized by a simple morphology but an often confounding taxonomy. The sporophyte, the conspicuous spore producing generation of the plant, is a small perennial which arises from a simple underground stem with roots which lack roothairs. The plants generally produce one aboveground leaf, or frond, per year with successive primordia enclosed in a sheath at its base. The frond is divided into two parts which share a common stalk, a usually sterile segment, the trophophore, and a fertile segment, the sporophore. The trophophore is laminar and usually pinnatifid (ternate in B. lanceolatum) and features of its lobing are the primary characters which distinguish the species. The sporophore bears grape-like sporangia where spores are produced. Spores germinate and develop into tiny underground gametophytes which are rarely seen or studied. Both generations of the ferns are associated with mycorrhizal fungi.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • "National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary."
    Intro 1996 National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands The Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared a National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary (1996 National List). The 1996 National List is a draft revision of the National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1988 National Summary (Reed 1988) (1988 National List). The 1996 National List is provided to encourage additional public review and comments on the draft regional wetland indicator assignments. The 1996 National List reflects a significant amount of new information that has become available since 1988 on the wetland affinity of vascular plants. This new information has resulted from the extensive use of the 1988 National List in the field by individuals involved in wetland and other resource inventories, wetland identification and delineation, and wetland research. Interim Regional Interagency Review Panel (Regional Panel) changes in indicator status as well as additions and deletions to the 1988 National List were documented in Regional supplements. The National List was originally developed as an appendix to the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin et al.1979) to aid in the consistent application of this classification system for wetlands in the field.. The 1996 National List also was developed to aid in determining the presence of hydrophytic vegetation in the Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland regulatory program and in the implementation of the swampbuster provisions of the Food Security Act. While not required by law or regulation, the Fish and Wildlife Service is making the 1996 National List available for review and comment.
    [Show full text]
  • Biological Evaluation for US Trunk Highway 2 Passing Lane and Turn Lane Improvements
    Draft Biological Evaluation for US Trunk Highway 2 Passing Lane and Turn Lane Improvements Prepared by: Minnesota Department of Transportation Prepared for: US Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest Minnesota Department of Natural Resources May 2014 US Highwy 2 Passing Lane and Turn Lane Improvements Biological Evaluation This Biological Evaluation was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, National Forest Management Act, and other applicable laws and regulations. For additional information, please contact the team leader for the US Trunk Highway 2 Passing Lane and Turn Lane Improvements Project. Ms. Christine Brown Chippewa National Forest Address: 200 Ash Avenue NW Cass Lake, MN 56633 Phone: (218) 335-8600 TTY: (218) 335-8632 FAX: (218)335-8637 Prepared by: ______________________________________ _______________ Antony Randazzo, HDR Engineering, Inc. Date Reviewed by: ______________________________________ _______________ Kirk W. Larson, U.S. Forest Service Date Chippewa National Forest Reviewed by: ______________________________________ _______________ Cory Mlodik, U.S. Forest Service Date Chippewa National Forest May 2014 Signature Page Page i US Highwy 2 Passing Lane and Turn Lane Improvements Biological Evaluation Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Purpose of this Report ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Mosses: What Do They Tell Us About Moss Evolution?
    Bry. Div. Evo. 043 (1): 072–097 ISSN 2381-9677 (print edition) DIVERSITY & https://www.mapress.com/j/bde BRYOPHYTEEVOLUTION Copyright © 2021 Magnolia Press Article ISSN 2381-9685 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/bde.43.1.7 Fossil mosses: What do they tell us about moss evolution? MicHAEL S. IGNATOV1,2 & ELENA V. MASLOVA3 1 Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia 2 Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 3 Belgorod State University, Pobedy Square, 85, Belgorod, 308015 Russia �[email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1520-042X * author for correspondence: �[email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6096-6315 Abstract The moss fossil records from the Paleozoic age to the Eocene epoch are reviewed and their putative relationships to extant moss groups discussed. The incomplete preservation and lack of key characters that could define the position of an ancient moss in modern classification remain the problem. Carboniferous records are still impossible to refer to any of the modern moss taxa. Numerous Permian protosphagnalean mosses possess traits that are absent in any extant group and they are therefore treated here as an extinct lineage, whose descendants, if any remain, cannot be recognized among contemporary taxa. Non-protosphagnalean Permian mosses were also fairly diverse, representing morphotypes comparable with Dicranidae and acrocarpous Bryidae, although unequivocal representatives of these subclasses are known only since Cretaceous and Jurassic. Even though Sphagnales is one of two oldest lineages separated from the main trunk of moss phylogenetic tree, it appears in fossil state regularly only since Late Cretaceous, ca.
    [Show full text]
  • Botrychium Simplex E. Hitchc. (Ophioglossaceae) – a New Species for the Native Flora of Ukraine
    Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 43: 7-12, 2016 BRC www.brc.amu.edu.pl DOI 10.1515/biorc-2016-0015 Submitted 8.04.2016, Accepted 23.09.2016 Botrychium simplex E. Hitchc. (Ophioglossaceae) – a new species for the native flora of Ukraine Ivan Yu. Parnikoza1* & Zbigniew Celka2 1Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics NAS of Ukraine, Zabolotnoho 150, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine 2Department of Plant Taxonomy, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland * corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]) Abstract. The work presents the results of herbarium survey that resulted in findingBotrychium simplex E. Hitchc. – a new for the native Ukrainian flora species of the family Ophioglossaceae. A specimen of this taxon was found in the National Herbarium of Ukraine in the M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv (KW) among the specimens of Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. originating from the surroundings of Kharkiv. Thus, this finding indicates the most south-eastern locality of B. simplex in Europe found so far. Key words: least moonwort, common moonwort, rare species, Ukraine, herbarium, Kyiv, KW 1. Introduction have been conducted in Ukraine for over 10 years (see Parnikoza 2002, 2010; Chorney et al. 2004; Parnikoza The genus Botrychium Sw. is represented in the & Tsukanova 2005; Melnik 2009, Bezsmertna & Heluta world flora by 25 species (Mabberley 2008), while 2013; Votkalchuk et al. 2014; Parnikoza & Celka 2016). in Europe by seven (Valentine & Moore 2007). The The aim of this work is to provide information on majority of European species of Botrychium belong Botrychium simplex, a species not previously identified to threatened taxa on the scale of whole Europe (e.g., and listed in the native flora of Ukraine.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Japanese Ferns II. by T. Nakai
    Notes on Japanese Ferns II. By T. Nakai (I.) PolypodiaceaeR. BROWN, Prodr. F1. Nov. Holland. p. I45 (i8io), pro parte. Plzysematiurn KAULFVSS in Flora (1829) p. 34I. The species of this genus have not articulation at the stipes of fronds. The indusium is complete sac, bursting irregularly in its maturity. DIEi.S took this for Woodsia on account of the lack of articulation at the stipes of Woodsia polystichoides. The ordinary Woodsiahas horizontal articulation in the middle of the stipes of the frond. But in Woodsiapolystichoides articulation comes at the upper end of the stipes. It is oblique and along the segmental line many lanceolate paleae arrange in a peculiar mode. DIETShas overlooked this fact, and perhaps CHRISTENSENhad the same view. By this peculiar mode of articulation Woodsiapolystichoides evidently repre- sents a distinct section Acrolysis NAKAI,sect. nov. However, the indusium of Woodsiapolystichoides is Woodsia-type; incomplete mem- brane covering the lower part of sorus and ending with hairs. This mode of indusium is fundamentally different from I'hysennatium,and I take Woodsia distinct from Plzysematzum. Among the numbers of species of Japanese Woodsia only one belongs to Pliysenzatium. P/zysernatiulnmanclzuricnse NAKAI, comb. nov. Woodsiamanclzuriensis W. J. HOOKER,2nd Cent. t. 98 (i86i). Diacalpe manclzuriensisTREVISAN Nuo. Giorn. Bot. Ital. VII. p. I6o (I875). Hab. Japonia, Corea, Manchuria et China bor. Vittaria formosana NAKAI,sp. nov. (Eu-Vittaria). Vittaria elongata (non SWARTZ)HARRINGTON in Journ. Linn. Soc. XVI. p. 3 3 (1878); pro parte, quoad plantam ex Formosa. BAKER July,1925 NAKAI-NOTESON JAPANESE FERNS II 177 in BRITTEN,Journ. Bot.
    [Show full text]
  • Monoicous Species Pairs in the Mniaceae (Bryophyta); Morphology, Sexual Condition and Distiribution
    ISSN 2336-3193 Acta Mus. Siles. Sci. Natur., 68: 67-81, 2019 DOI: 10.2478/cszma-2019-0008 Published: online 1 July 2019, print July 2019 On the hypothesis of dioicous − monoicous species pairs in the Mniaceae (Bryophyta); morphology, sexual condition and distiribution Timo Koponen On the hypothesis of dioicous − monoicous species pairs in the Mniaceae (Bryophyta); morphology, sexual condition and distiribution. – Acta Mus. Siles. Sci. Natur., 68: 67-81, 2019. Abstract: Some early observations seemed to show that, in the Mniaceae, the doubling of the chromo- some set affects a change from dioicous to monoicous condition, larger size of the gametophyte including larger leaf cell size, and to a wider range of the monoicous counterpart. The Mniaceae taxa are divided into four groups based on their sexual condition and morphology. 1. Dioicous – monoicous counterparts which can be distinguished by morphological characters, 2. Dioicous – monoicous taxa which have no morphological, deviating characters, 3. Monoicous species mostly with diploid chromosome number for which no dioicous counterpart is known, and 4. The taxa in Mniaceae with only dioicous plants. Most of the monoicous species of the Mniaceae have wide ranges, but a few of them are endemics in geographically isolated areas. The dioicous species have either a wide holarctic range or a limited range in the forested areas of temperate and meridional North America, Europe and SE Asia, or in subtropical Asia. Some of the monoicous species are evidently autodiploids and a few of them are allopolyploids from cross-sections of two species. Quite recently, several new possible dioicous – monoicous relationships have been discovered.
    [Show full text]
  • Species at Risk on Department of Defense Installations
    Species at Risk on Department of Defense Installations Revised Report and Documentation Prepared for: Department of Defense U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Submitted by: January 2004 Species at Risk on Department of Defense Installations: Revised Report and Documentation CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary..........................................................................................iii 2.0 Introduction – Project Description................................................................. 1 3.0 Methods ................................................................................................................ 3 3.1 NatureServe Data................................................................................................ 3 3.2 DOD Installations............................................................................................... 5 3.3 Species at Risk .................................................................................................... 6 4.0 Results................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Nationwide Assessment of Species at Risk on DOD Installations..................... 8 4.2 Assessment of Species at Risk by Military Service.......................................... 13 4.3 Assessment of Species at Risk on Installations ................................................ 15 5.0 Conclusion and Management Recommendations.................................... 22 6.0 Future Directions.............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ferns of the National Forests in Alaska
    Ferns of the National Forests in Alaska United States Forest Service R10-RG-182 Department of Alaska Region June 2010 Agriculture Ferns abound in Alaska’s two national forests, the Chugach and the Tongass, which are situated on the southcentral and southeastern coast respectively. These forests contain myriad habitats where ferns thrive. Most showy are the ferns occupying the forest floor of temperate rainforest habitats. However, ferns grow in nearly all non-forested habitats such as beach meadows, wet meadows, alpine meadows, high alpine, and talus slopes. The cool, wet climate highly influenced by the Pacific Ocean creates ideal growing conditions for ferns. In the past, ferns had been loosely grouped with other spore-bearing vascular plants, often called “fern allies.” Recent genetic studies reveal surprises about the relationships among ferns and fern allies. First, ferns appear to be closely related to horsetails; in fact these plants are now grouped as ferns. Second, plants commonly called fern allies (club-mosses, spike-mosses and quillworts) are not at all related to the ferns. General relationships among members of the plant kingdom are shown in the diagram below. Ferns & Horsetails Flowering Plants Conifers Club-mosses, Spike-mosses & Quillworts Mosses & Liverworts Thirty of the fifty-four ferns and horsetails known to grow in Alaska’s national forests are described and pictured in this brochure. They are arranged in the same order as listed in the fern checklist presented on pages 26 and 27. 2 Midrib Blade Pinnule(s) Frond (leaf) Pinna Petiole (leaf stalk) Parts of a fern frond, northern wood fern (p.
    [Show full text]
  • Botrychium Lunaria
    Botrychium lunaria Family: Ophioglossaceae Genus: Botrychium Subgenus: Botrychium (syn. Eubotrychium) Species: Botrychium lunaria (L.) Swartz Common Name: Common Moonwort Ploidy: Diploid Published description: Trophophore stalk 0- 1 mm; blade dark green, oblong, 1-pinnate, to 10 x 4 cm, thick, fleshy. Pinnae to 9 pairs, spreading, mostly overlapping except in shaded forest forms, distance between 1st and 2nd pinnae not or slightly more than between 2nd and 3rd pairs, basal pinna pair approximately equal in size and cutting to adjacent pair, broadly fan-shaped, undivided to tip, margins mainly entire or undulate, rarely dentate, apical lobe usually cuneate to spatulate, notched, approximate to adjacent lobes, apex rounded, venation like ribs of fan, midribs absent. Sporophores 1-2 pinnate, 0.8- 2 times length of trophophore. 2n = 90. (Wagner and Wagner 1993) Identification Botrychium lunaria is most easily differentiated from other moonworts by the breadth of its pinnae. Typically the basal pinnae span an arc of nearly 180 degrees and the third pinna pair has a span of approximately 90 degrees. The upper pinnae angle upward—the lower side margin creates a large angle (nearly 90°) with the rachis, the upper side margin is nearly parallel to the rachis. Although it is occasionally short stalked, the trophophore of B. lunaria is typically sessile, the stalk length seldom equaling or exceeding the distance between the first pinna pair as it usually does in B. minganense. Plants are green to dark green with a surface that is lustrous to dull, but never glaucous. The sporophore is long stalked, the stalk, at spore release, exceeding the length of the trophophore.
    [Show full text]
  • An Illustrated Key to the Ferns of Oregon
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Helen Patricia O'Donahue Pembrook for the Master of Arts (Name) (Degree) Systematic Botany (Major) Date thesis is presented March 8, 1963 Title AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE FERNS OF OREGON Abstract approved IIIII (Major professor) The purpose of the work is to enable students of botany to identify accurately Oregon ferns, both as living plants and as dried speci- mens. Therefore, it provides vegetative keys to the families, genera and species of the ferns (Class FILICINAE) found in Oregon. Correct names have been determined using the latest available information and in accordance with 1961 edition of the International Code of Botan- ical Nomenclature. The synonomy, a description, and original draw- ings of each species and subspecific taxon are included. An illustrated glossary and a technical glossary have been prepared to explain and clarify the descriptive terms used. There is also a bibliography of the literature used in the preparation of the paper. The class FILICINAE is represented in Oregon by 4 families, 20 genera, 45 or 46 species, 4 of which are represented by more than one subspecies or variety. One species, Botrychium pumicola Coville, is endemic. The taxa are distributed as follows: OPHIO- GLOSSACEAE, 2 genera: Botrychium, 7 species, 1 represented by 2 subspecies, 1 by 2 varieties; Ophioglossum, 1 species. POLYPODI- ACEAE, 15 genera: Woodsia., 2 species; Cystopteris, 1 species; Dryopteris, 6 species; Polystichum, 5 species, 1 represented by 2 distinct varieties; Athyrium, 2 species; Asplenium, 2 species; Stru- thiopteris, 1 species; Woodwardia, 1 species; Pitrogramma, 1 spe- cies; Pellaea, 4 species; Cheilanthes, 3 or 4 species; Cryptogramma, 1 species; Adiantum, 2 species; Pteridium, 1 species; Polypodium, 2 species, 1 represented by 2 varieties.
    [Show full text]
  • Botrychium Lunaria (L.) Sw
    New England Plant Conservation Program Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. Moonwort Conservation and Research Plan for New England Prepared by: Arthur V. Gilman Marshfield, Vermont For: New England Wild Flower Society 180 Hemenway Road Framingham, MA 01701 508/877-7630 e-mail: [email protected] • website: www.newfs.org Approved, Regional Advisory Council, 2003 1 SUMMARY _____________________________________________________________ Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw.) is a rare fern in the Ophioglossaceae. It occurs in a very few locales in northern New England, where it is at the southern edge of its range. The reasons for its rarity are not well understood, but it appears to have always been very rare in the region and does not appear to have suffered declines due to land-use practices. The species is a poor competitor and its habitats are typically small patches (tens to hundreds of square feet) where some soil disturbance has occurred or where other factors prevent dense turf or thick duff layers from occurring. Such habitats occur in maritime grasslands along the coast of eastern Maine, in northern white cedar forests in northern Maine, and possibly on forested hilltop areas in southeastern Vermont. Calcareous soils, whether derived from bedrock, calcareous till deposits, or from ongoing calcium deposition from ocean debris (i.e., mussel shells) or sea-spray are required for this species. Four current (within the past 20 years) sites are known only in Maine, of which two are confirmed as this species. Although no vouchers have been seen for the other two current Maine sites, they are presumed to be of Botrychium lunaria.
    [Show full text]
  • Botrychium Simplex
    Botrychium simplex Family: Ophioglossaceae Genus: Botrychium Species: Botrychium simplex E. Hitchcock Varieties: simplex, compositum Common Name: Least Moonwort Ploidy: Diploid map = var. simplex Technical description: Trophophore stalk 0- 3 cm, 0-1.5 times length of trophophore rachis; blade dull to bright green to whitish green, linear to ovate oblong to oblong to fully triangular with pinnae arranged ternately, simple to 2(-3) pinnate, to 7 x 0.2 cm, fleshy to thin, papery or herbaceous. Pinnae or well-developed lobes to 7 pairs, spreading to ascending, approximate to widely separated, distance between 1st and 2nd pinnae frequently greater than between 2nd and 3rd pairs, basal pinna pair commonly much larger and more complex than adjacent pair, cuneate to fan-shaped, strongly asymmetric, undivided to divided to tip, basiscopic margins ± perpendicular to rachis, acroscopic margins strongly B. simplex var. simplex ascending, basal pinnae often divided into 2 unequal parts, margins usually entire or shallowly sinuate, apex rounded, undivided and boat-shaped to strongly divided and plane, venation pinnate or like ribs of fan, with midrib. Sporophores mainly 1-pinnate, 1-8 times length of trophophores, 2n = 90. (Wagner and Wagner 1993). B. simplex var. compositum st Small plant with lower pinnae undivided Unusually large plant with 1 and 2nd pinna pair divided. Taxonomy Botrychium simplex was described by E. Hitchcock in 1823 (Amer. J. Sci. Arts 6:103) based on plants from Massachusetts. Following publication of the species, many botanists called attention to the conspicuous variation within the species. Clausen (1938) treated this variation by recognizing four varieties: var. typicum (= var.
    [Show full text]