Botrychium pallidum — pale moonwort
![Plant form: Botrychium pallidum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ophioglossaceae/botrychium-pallidum-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Leaf: Botrychium pallidum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ophioglossaceae/botrychium-pallidum-le-ahaines-d.jpg)
![Sori: Botrychium pallidum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ophioglossaceae/botrychium-pallidum-so-ahaines-c.jpg)
![Plant form: Botrychium pallidum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ophioglossaceae/botrychium-pallidum-ha-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Leaf: Botrychium pallidum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ophioglossaceae/botrychium-pallidum-le-ahaines-e.jpg)
![Detail of leaf and/or divisions: Botrychium pallidum. ~ By Jill Weber. ~ Copyright © 2024 Jill Weber. ~ jillweber03[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Ophioglossaceae/botrychium-pallidum-ld-jweber.jpg)
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Facts
Pale moonwort has a limited and sporadic distribution in North America. In New England it is found only in a single location in Washington County, Maine, in an open field. As its name suggests, this species is whitish-green to pale green.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
- Maine
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
- Maine
- Specific habitat
-
- man-made or disturbed habitats
- meadows or fields
Wetland status
Not classified
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- absent
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- absent
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Maine
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
10. Botrychium pallidum W.H. Wagner NC
pale moonwort. ME; single location in Washington County, ME. Open fields.
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
- Botrychium minganense:
- plants green to yellow-green or blue-green in life, and the lower vegetative leaflets entire to crenate or lobed, when lobed, the lobes usually +/- equal (vs. B. pallidum, with plants pale glaucous-green to white-green in life, and the lower vegetative leaflets frequently cleft into 2 unequal lobes with the upper lobe larger).