Common Moonwort
Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw.
Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw., commonly known as Common Moonwort, is a fern species in the family Ophioglossaceae. It has a broad distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, including regions such as the Açores, Madeira, Pico Island, parts of Europe, North America, and extends into temperate areas of the Southern Hemisphere. The species was published in 1922 and is recognized as the most widely distributed moonwort. A discussion by Jonsell & Jarvis in 1994 notes the selection of the same Clifford material as lectotype as previously proposed by Bobrov.
Description
Botrychium lunaria is a member of the Ophioglossaceae family and is found in a wide range of habitats across Eurasia and North America, including regions such as Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, and Alberta. The species is also present in parts of the Southern Hemisphere. It is distinguished by its moon-shaped spore-bearing structures. The taxonomic history includes a clarification of its lectotype by Jonsell & Jarvis, who confirmed the use of the Clifford material as the type specimen, aligning with earlier work by Bobrov.
Other common names
Common MoonwortMoonwortMoonwort GrapefernUnshoe-The-Horse
Distribution
Açores · Madeira · Pico Island · Madeira Island · TW · Flanders · SE · Vermont-US · Øyer · Østlandet · NO · DK · GL · Belgium · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · Afghanistan · Alaska · Albania · Alberta · Altay · Amur · Arizona · Austria · Azores · Baltic States · Belarus · British Columbia · Bulgaria · Buryatiya
Synonyms
Botrychium lunatumOsmunda lunariaOphioglossum pennatumOsmunda lunataBotrypus lunariaBotrychium lunaria f. lunariaBotrychium lunaria var. lunariaBotrychium lunaria var. przevalskiiBotrychium lunaria f. tripartitumBlechnum racemosumBotrychium lunaria var. rhombeumBotrychium lunaria f. alatumBotrychium lunaria f. alpinumBotrychium lunaria f. gracileBotrychium lunaria f. incisumBotrychium lunaria f. subbipinnatumBotrychium lunaria f. subincisumBotrychium lunaria var. polyphyllumBotrychium lunaria var. sinuatumOsmunda lunaria var. rutaceaBotrychium lunaria unranked incisumBotrychium lunaria subsp. subincisumBotrychium lunaria subsp. alpinumBotrychium lunaria var. tripartitumBotrychium lunaria subf. alternansBotrychium lunaria subf. caudatumBotrychium lunaria subf. platyphyllumBotrychium lunaria subf. brevipesBotrychium lunaria subf. imbricatumBotrychium lunaria subf. longifolium
