Alaska moonwort

Botrychium alaskense

Habitat 3

Gravel.

Distribution 3

Yukon: Central and southwestern Yukon
North America: BC, Yukon and Alaska
World: Western North America

Distinguishing Features 3

This species can be separated from similar pinnate-pinnatifid species as follows (from Farrar, 2006*):

1a. Upper pinna bases rounded (angle > 90°) pinna tips rounded; sporophore stalk equal to trophophore length; sporophore pinnately branched...............................B. pinnate

1b. Upper pinna bases pointed (angle < 90°); pinna apices angular; sporophore stalk shorter than trophophore length; sporophore divided into three main branches ..............go to 2

2a. Trophophore outline triangular (equilateral) with basal pinnae nearly as large as the central rachis and pinnae; pinna pairs 3-4; pinnae narrowly ovate to oblong..................................................................B. lanceolatum

2b. Trophophore outline narrowly triangular to broadly ovate; basal pinnae not disproportionately enlarged;
pinna pairs 5-6; pinnae ovate to elliptic..................B. alaskense

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Jason Grant, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jason Grant
  2. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by L.G. Johanson
  3. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

Range Map

iNaturalist.ca Map

Color yellow
Plant Adder’s Tongue Family (Ophioglossaceae), All (Plantae)