Introductory
SPECIES: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort 



ABBREVIATION : 
BOTPAR

SYNONYMS : 
NO-ENTRY


SCS PLANT CODE : 
NO-ENTRY


COMMON NAMES : 
   peculiar moonwort


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name of peculiar moonwort is
Botrychium paradoxum Wagner.


LIFE FORM : 
Fern or Fern Ally

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
Notice of Review, Category 2

OTHER STATUS : 
USFS Region 1 status:  MT -  sensitive list [8]
Montana status:  threatened [8]

Globally, peculiar moonwort is critically imperiled [7].


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Tara Y. Williams, September 1990


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Williams, Tara Y. 1990. Botrychium paradoxum. In: Remainder of Citation

DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Peculiar moonwort is a regional endemic which occurs near the
Continental Divide in Montana and adjacent Alberta [5,10].  In Montana
it occurs in Deer Lodge, Glacier, and Flathead counties [5].


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES23  Fir - spruce
   FRES26  Lodgepole pine


STATES : 
     MT  AB


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS : 
     GLAC


BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
   8  Northern Rocky Mountains


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K008  Lodgepole pine - subalpine forest
   K015  Western spruce - fir forest


SAF COVER TYPES : 
   206  Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir
   218  Lodgepole pine


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
NO-ENTRY

VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
NO-ENTRY


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Populations of this species may not persist for long periods of time.
Trampling and other mechanical damage should be deterred.

BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Peculiar moonwort grows 1 to 6 inches (3-15 cm) tall.  The leafless stem
bears spore sacs that are 1 mm in diameter.  The leaf in this species is
unique in that the sterile segment is replaced by a second fertile
segment [8,10].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Undisturbed State:  Hemicryptophyte
   Burned or Clipped State:  Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
NO-ENTRY


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Peculiar moonwort grows in open meadows to dense stands of tall herbs in
foothill and subalpine zones.  It is often on disturbed sites from 4,000
to 8,000 feet (1,200-2,450 m).  It is difficult to distinguish from
similar species with which it occurs.  It grows larger in open than in
shaded stands.  It has been found on moist drainages, grassy slopes,
near lake shores, and on rotting plant material under dense cover.  It
is associated with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Engelmann spruce
(Picea engelmannii), Abies lyallii, shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla
fruticosa), and willows (Salix spp.). Associated herbaceous vegetation
varies by site [7,9].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Peculiar moonwort is distinguishable from other moonworts in July and
August [10].

FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
NO-ENTRY

FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
NO-ENTRY


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
NO-ENTRY


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

References for species: Botrychium paradoxum

1. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p. [434]

2. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]

3. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others]. 1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]

4. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. United States [Potential natural vegetation of the conterminous United States]. Special Publication No. 36. New York: American Geographical Society. 1:3,168,000; colored. [3455]

5. Lesica, P.; Moore, G.; Peterson, K. M.; Rumely, J. H. 1984. Vascular plants of limited distribution in Montana. Monograph No. 2. Proceedings, Montana Academy of Sciences. 43(Supplement): 1-61. [11656]

6. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]

7. Shelly, J. Stephen, compiler. 1990. Plant species of special concern. Helena, MT: Montana Natural Heritage Program. 20 p. [12960]

8. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Region. 1988. Sensitive plant field guide [Idaho]. Missoula, MT. [12274]

9. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. 50 CFR Pt 17. Endangered & threatened wildlife & plants; review of plant taxa for listing as endangered or threatened species; notice of review. Federal Register. 55(35): 6184-6229. [14528]

10. Wagner, W. H., Jr.; Wagner, Florence S. 1981. New species of moonworts, Botrychium subg. Botrychium (Ophioglossaceae), from North America. American Fern Journal. 71(1): 20-30. [12967]

Related categories for Species: Botrychium paradoxum | Peculiar Moonwort