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little goblin moonwort
Scientific Name: Botrychium mormo
Family: Ophioglossaceae
Category: Fern
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names: MI (goblin moonwort), WI (little goblin moonwort)
Little Goblin Moonwort (Botrychium mormo)
The Little Goblin Moonwort, scientifically known as Botrychium mormo, is a fascinating and rare fern found in specific habitats. It belongs to a group of tiny ferns known as moonworts or grapeferns.
Common Names
- Little Goblin Moonwort
- Grapefern
- Moonwort
- Little Goblin
- Goblin Fern
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Botrychium mormo W.H. Wagner
- Family: Ophioglossaceae (Adder's-tongue Family)
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms: Botrychium simplex E. Hitchc.
Distribution and Habitat
- This plant is found in scattered sites throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other locations in the Great Lakes region and possibly Iowa.
- It prefers mature second-growth to old-growth hardwood forests.
- A specific preference is for silt-capped drumlins, usually in areas where hemlock is a component of the forest.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- The Little Goblin Moonwort is described as a forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that isn't a grass.
Ecology
- Two rare plants, little goblin moonwort (Botrychium mormo) and autumn coralroot (Corallorhiza odontorhiza), may occur in the same areas.
Further Information
- USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
- NatureServe Explorer
- Encyclopedia of Life
- ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System): TSN 501024