SafePlants

Cut-leaved Grape Fern and Relatives

This page provides information about several members of the Botrychium genus, commonly known as grape ferns and moonworts, along with related species.

Considerations for Pets

• Several species mentioned, such as Dissected grapefern, have blades with toothed pinnae that may be tempting for pets to chew on.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Names: Several species are discussed:
  • Botrychium dissectum Spreng. (Cut-leaved grape-fern)
  • Botrychium obliquum Muhl. (Synonym for Botrychium dissectum)
  • Sceptridium dissectum (Spreng.) Lyon (Formerly Botrychium dissectum)
  • Sceptridium jenmanii (Underw.) Lyon
  • Botrychium matricariifolium (Dll) A. Braun ex W.D.J. Koch (Daisy-leaved moonwort, Matricary grapefern, Chamomile grape-fern)
  • Botrychium multifidum (S.G. Gmel.) Trevis. (Leathery grapefern)
  • Botrychium pumicola (Pumice grape-fern)
  • Botrychium virginianum (Virginia Grape Fern, Rattlesnake Fern), also referred to as Botrypus virginianus
  • Botrychium biternatum (Southern Grape Fern, Sparselobe Grapefern) also called Botrychium tenuifolium
  • Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort Grape-fern)
  • Botrychium lunarioides
  • Botrychium oneidense (Blunt-lobed Grape Fern)
• Family: Ophioglossaceae (Adder's-Tongue Family, Moonwort Family)
• Order: Ophioglossales

Common Names

• Cut-leaved grape-fern
• Winter grapefern
• Prostrate grapefern
• Daisy-leaved moonwort
• Matricary grapefern
• Chamomile grape-fern
• Rattlesnake Fern
• Leathery grapefern
• Pumice grape-fern
• Virginia Grape Fern
• Southern Grape Fern
• Sparselobe Grapefern
• Moonwort Grape-fern

Morphology and Growth Habit

• Botrychium virginianum is described as a low-growing herb, commonly a foot high or smaller.
• The Cut-leaved grape fern (Botrychium dissectum) is variable in appearance. It gets its name from its blades that are dissected into toothed pinnae. The blades may persist throughout the season.
• Grape ferns consist of a single sterile leaf and a single fertile leaf (although the latter is not always produced).

Distribution and Habitat

• Botrychium matricariifolium is noted as being found in North America and Eurasia.
• Botrychium biternatum (Southern grape fern) is native to Georgia and grows in rich woods.
• Botrychium dissectum grows sporadically at Hilton Pond Center.
• Grapeferns and moonworts can be found east of the Crest of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.
• Specific locations mentioned include North Grapefern Way in Beverly Hills, FL, and Grape Fern in San Diego, CA. There is a mention of a specimen of Botrychium oneidense that was collected on the Mohawk Flats near Utica, NY, in Oneida County.
• Japan is home to many fern species, including grape ferns (Botrychium).

Etymology

• The genus name Botrychium comes from the Greek word "botrus" (or "botrys"), meaning "grape," referring to the prominent clusters of round spore cases which resemble miniature grapes.

Quirky Facts

• The species Botrychium oneidense is named for Oneida County, New York.