Botrychium virginianum

Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens from wild populations. Cultivated occurrences are not mapped. View county names by placing the cursor over the map.

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Family:	OPHIOGLOSSACEAE
Species:	Botrychium virginianum (L.)Sw.
Common Name:	RATTLESNAKE FERN
Plant Notes:	This species is now commonly placed in the genus Botrypus.
Status:	Native, FACU (NWPL)
Specimen:	View details of USF Herbarium specimens

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

Division
Class
Sub Class
Order	OPHIOGLOSSALES
Family	OPHIOGLOSSACEAE
Genus	Botrychium
Species	Botrychium virginianum (L.)Sw. - RATTLESNAKE FERN

Citation

Citation	BOTRYCHIUM VIRGINIANUM (Linnaeus) Swartz, J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(2): 111. 1801.
Basionym:	Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Type:	"America", without data, Kalm s.n. (lectotype: LINN 1244.3). Lectotypified by Proctor, Ferns Jamaica 51. 1985.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Source

County	Herbaria	Literature Citation (If Applicable)
Alachua	FLAS
Columbia	USF
Gadsden	FSU
Hernando	FLAS
Jackson	FLAS
Lafayette	FLAS
Leon	FLAS
Liberty	FLAS
Marion	USF
Wakulla	USF
Walton	USF

Synonyms

– Denotes synonyms that are applicable to the state. Show these synonyms only

Synonym	Full Citation	Basionym	Type
Botrychium gracile	Botrychium gracile Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 656. 1814.		TYPE: VIRGINIA:
Botrychium virginianum subsp. typicum	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, subsp. typicum R. T. Clausen, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 19(2): 98. 1938, nom. inadmiss.	BASIONYM: Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz 1802; Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Botrychium virginianum var. gracile	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, var. gracile (Pursh) Milde, Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot Ges. Wien 19: 179. 1869.	BASIONYM: Botrychium gracile Pursh 1814.
Botrychium virginicum var. gracile	Botrychium virginicum Willdenow, var. gracile (Pursh) C. Presl, Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 46. 1845.	BASIONYM: Botrychium gracile Pursh 1814.
Botrypus virginicus	Botrypus virginicus (Linnaeus) Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 274. 1803, nom illegit.	BASIONYM: Osmunda virginica Linnaeus 1767, nom. illegit.; Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Japanobotrychium virginianum	Japanobotrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) M. Nishida ex Tagawa, J. Jap. Bot. 33: 202. 1958.	BASIONYM: Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Osmunda virginiana	Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1064. 1753.		TYPE: "America", without data, Kalm s.n. (lectotype: LINN 1244.3). Lectotypified by Proctor, Ferns Jamaica 51. 1985.
Osmunda virginica	Osmunda virginica Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12. 2: 685. 1767, nom. illegit.	BASIONYM: Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Osmundopteris virginiana	Osmundopteris virginiana (Linnaeus) Small, Ferns S.E. States 377. 1938.	BASIONYM: Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Botrychium brachystachys	Botrychium brachystachys Kunze, Linnaea 18: 305. 1844.		TYPE: MEXICO: Without data, Roemer 35 (holotype: LZ(destroyed)).
Botrychium cicutaria	Botrychium cicutaria (Savigny) Swartz, Syn. Fil. 171. 1806.	BASIONYM: Osmunda cicutaria Savigny 1797.
Botrychium dichronum	Botrychium dichronum Underwood, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 30: 45. 1903.		TYPE: JAMAICA: Morce's Gap, 7 Feb 1900, Clute 96 (holotype: GH).
Botrychium virginianum subsp. meridionale	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, subsp. meridionale (Butters) R. T. Clausen, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 19(2): 103. 1938.	BASIONYM: Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, var. meridionale Butters 1917.
Botrychium virginianum var. intermedium	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, var. intermedium Butters, Rhodora 19: 210. 1917.		TYPE: NEW YORK: St. Lawrence Co.: Conton, s.d., Phelps 47 (holotype: GH).
Botrychium virginianum var. meridionale	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, var. meridionale Butters, Rhodora 19: 213. 1917.		TYPE: MEXICO: Chiapas: Without data, Ghiesbreght 252 (holotype: GH).
Botrychium virginianum var. mexicanum	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, var. mexicanum Hooker & Greville, Bot. Misc. 3: 223. 1833.		TYPE: MEXICO: Veracruz:
Botrychium virginianum var. occidentale	Botrychium virginianum (Linnaeus) Swartz, var. occidentale Butters, Rhodora 19: 213. 1917.		TYPE: IDAHO: Kootenai Co.?: Near S end of Lake Pend d'Oreille, 28 Jul 1892, Sandberg et al. 762 (holotype: GH).
Botrypus cicutaria	Botrypus cicutaria (Savigny) Holub, Preslia 45: 277. 1973.	BASIONYM: Osmunda cicutaria Savigny 1797.
Botrypus tibeticus	Botrypus tibeticus Ching, in C. Y. Wu, Fl. Xizang 1: 34. 1983.		TYPE: CHINA: Tibet: Lingzhi, s.d., Chinese Medicine Plant Invest. Team 3390 (holotype: PE).
Botrypus virginiana	Botrypus virginiana (Linnaeus) Holub, Preslia 45: 277. 1973.	BASIONYM: Osmunda virginiana Linnaeus 1753.
Japanobotrychium cicutaria	Japanobotrychium cicutaria (Savigny) M. Nishida ex Tagawa, J. Jap. Bot. 33: 201. 1958.	BASIONYM: Osmunda cicutaria Savigny 1797.
Osmunda cicutaria	Osmunda cicutaria Savigny, in Lamarck, Encycl. 4: 650. 1797.		TYPE: Hispaniola, without data (holotype: Plumier, Traite Foug. Amer. t. 159. 1705).

Specimens

Country	State	County	Date	Specimen
USA	Florida	Wakulla Co.	30 Mar 1995	E. L. Bridges 23524
USA	Florida	Walton Co.	08 Apr 1993	S. L. Orzell 21422
USA	Florida	Marion Co.	28 Mar 1993	S. L. Orzell 21350
USA	Florida	Columbia Co.	09 Apr 1971	J. H. Scudder 204
USA	South Carolina	Anderson Co.	31 May 1956	A. E. Radford 12059
USA	Tennessee	Polk Co.	25 Aug 1984	C. E. Nauman 1612
USA	South Carolina	Richland Co.	24 Apr 1984	J. B. Nelson 3228
USA	Alabama	Lawrence Co.	18 Jul 1954	R. L. Chermock s.n.
USA	Louisiana	West Feliciana Par.	28 Mar 1941	C. A. Brown s.n.
USA	Louisiana	West Feliciana Par.	28 Mar 1941	T. C. Sidney s.n.
USA	Louisiana	Madison Par.	13 Sep 1941	T. C. Sidney s.n.
USA	South Carolina	Spartanburg Co.	15 May 1991	S. R. Hill 22284
USA	North Carolina	Jackson Co.	25 Jul 1941	T. C. Sidney s.n.
USA	Tennessee	Cocke Co.	27 Aug 1977	P. Genelle 3131
USA	North Carolina	Rutherford Co.	05 Jun 1947	R. O. Woodbury s.n.
USA	North Carolina	Clay Co.	22 Apr 1971	J. H. Scudder 192
USA	North Carolina	Clay Co.	18 Aug 1966	J. H. Scudder 70
USA	North Carolina	Clay Co.	25 May 1977	J. H. Scudder 305
USA	North Carolina	Clay Co.	25 May 1969	J. H. Scudder 131
USA	North Carolina	Swain Co.	15 Aug 1968	J. H. Scudder 132
USA	North Carolina	Swain Co.	29 Apr 1976	J. H. Scudder 272
USA	Louisiana	Ouachita Par.	30 Apr 1984	D. D. Taylor 6921
USA	South Carolina	Laurens Co.	24 Apr 1992	S. R. Hill 22965
USA	South Carolina	Darlington Co.	30 May 1938	V. D. Matthews 647
USA	North Carolina	Macon Co.	08 May 1970	N. Summerlin 159
USA	Kentucky	Madison Co.	22 Jun 1959	J. Grossman 139
USA	Tennessee	Benton Co.	27 Apr 1969	R. D. Thomas 13397
USA	Tennessee	Franklin Co.	28 Jun 1942	T. C. Sidney s.n.
USA	Maine	Franklin Co.	04 Jul 1935	C. H. Knowlton s.n.
USA	Kentucky	Pulaski Co.	09 May 1991	J. Richard Abbott 154
USA	Michigan	Emmet Co.	21 Jun 1973	K. A. Wagner s.n.
USA	New Hampshire	Hillsborough Co.	25 Jun 1913	C. F. Batchelder s.n.
USA	Michigan	Berrien Co.	03 Oct 1959	H. Arnott s.n.
USA	Massachusetts	Norfolk Co.	20 Jun 1908	R. A. Ware 612
USA	Massachusetts	Essex Co.	01 Jul 1996	A. A. Eaton s.n.
Canada	Ontario Prov.		30 Jun 1913	O. E. Jennings 3137
USA	Missouri	St. Louis Co.	11 Jul 1999	D. Bogler 1246
USA	Illinois	Union Co.	22 May 2001	S. R. Hill 33824
Canada	Ontario Prov.		28 Jun 1914	O. E. Jennings 6042
USA	Vermont	Rutland Co.	26 May 1912	C. H. Knowlton s.n.
USA			s.d.	A. F. Tryon s.n.
USA	Wisconsin	Marathon Co.	01 Jul 1962	H. H. Iltis 20554
USA	Pennsylvania	Northampton Co.	1837	J. Wolle s.n.
USA	Kentucky	Jackson Co.	24 May 1983	D. D. Taylor 3568
USA	Vermont	Orleans Co.	07 Jul 1902	A. W. Cheever s.n.
USA	New Jersey	Sussex Co.	30 Jul 1948	J. Rapp 1139
USA	Massachusetts	Hampden Co.	08 Jun 1907	C. H. Knowlton s.n.
USA	Massachusetts	Franklin Co.	17 Jun 1921	J. Churchill s.n.
USA	South Carolina		07 Jul 1897	E. S. Steele s.n.
USA	Massachusetts	Middlesex Co.		C. W. Jenks s.n.
USA	Oklahoma	Washington Co.	21 May 1973	C.H. McDonald 899
USA	Vermont	Essex Co.	23 Jun 1958	A. S. Pease 39086
USA	New York		1884	M. Rodman s.n.
USA	Pennsylvania	Northampton Co.	1840	J. Wolle s.n.

Listed Status: Florida

Listed Status:	(Florida):Source - Plants in the Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act. Chapter 5B-40, Florida Administrative Code. 1998, amended.
Endangered:	A species of plants native to the state that are in imminent danger of extinction within the state, the survival of which is unlikely if the causes of a decline in the number of plants continue, and includes all species determined to be endangered or threatened pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
Threatened:	Listed as Threatened Plants in the Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act. Defined as species of plants native to the state that are in rapid decline in the number of plants within the state, but which have not so decreased in such number as to cause them to be endangered.

Listed Status: US

Listed Status: US	(U.S.) Source - List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.
Endangered:	Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Threatened:	Any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

WAP: Wetland AssessmentProcedure

Wetland Assessment Procedure (WAP): Source - Southwest Florida Water Management District, Wetland Assessment Procedure Instruction Manual for Isolated Wetlands (March 2005).

AD:	Adaptive Species. Plant species designated as FAC or Upland by DEP, but commonly seen in the transition zone in limited numbers.
D:	Deep Species. Plant species commonly found in the deep zone, and designated either FAC or OBL by DEP.
OD:	Outer Deep Species. Plant species commonly found in the outer deep zone, and designated either FACW or OBL by DEP.
T:	Transition Species. Plant species commonly found in the transition zone, and designated either FACW or OBL by DEP.
U:	Upland Species. Plant species that are not expected to be seen in wetlands.

ANY - WAP critieria is not taken into consideration
Yes - Show results with WAP designations
No - Show results without WAP designations

FISC: Florida Invasive Species Council

FISC:

Source - Florida Invasive Species Council's 2017 List of Florida's Most Invasive Species

Category I - Species that are invading and disrupting native plant communities in Florida. This definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused.

Category II - Species that have shown a potential to disrupt native plant communities. These species may become ranked as Category I, but have not yet demonstrated disruption of natural Florida communities.

DEP: Department of Environmental Protection

Wetland Status, Department of Environmental Regulation (DEP): Source - Delineation of the Landward Extent of Wetlands and Surface Waters, Chapter 62-340, Florida Administrative Code. 1994.

OBL:	Obligate wetland. Occurs almost always under natural conditions in wetlands.
FACW:	Facultative Wetland. Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally found in non-wetlands
FAC:	Facultative. equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands.

NWPL: National Wetland Plant List

National Wetland Plant List (NWPL): Source - Lichvar, R.W., M. Butterwick, N.C. Melvin, and W.N. Kirchner. 2014. The National Wetland Plant List: 2014 Update of Wetland Ratings. Phytoneuron 2014-41: 1-42.

OBL:	Obligate Wetland. Occurs almost always (estimated probability 99%) under natural conditions in wetlands.
FACW:	Facultative Wetland. Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands.
FAC:	Facultative. Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands (estimated probability 34%-66%).
FACU:	Facultative Upland. Usually occurs in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1%-33%).
UPL:	Obligate Upland. Occurs in wetlands in another region, but occurs almost always (estimated probability 99%) under natural conditions in non-wetlands in the regions specified.

Persisting

Identifying species that appear as waifs or only periodically appear in the flora for a few seasons.

Any - Persisting critieria is not taken into consideration
Yes - Show results with a Persisting value of Y
No - Show results without Persisting value of N

Duration

Annual:	Plants that perform their entire lifecycle within a single growing season. All roots, stems, and leaves die at the end of the growing season. Over wintering seeds allow the next generation to appear.
Biennial:	A plant that is typically vegetative its first year and blooms the following season. Once it has bloomed and set seed, the plant dies. Garlic mustard is an example of a biennial.
Perennial:	These plants live for three or more seasons. Many perennials may not be mature enough to bloom during its first year. Perennial wildflowers re-grow each season from overwinter root material.

Category

Vascular:	Any of various plants that have the vascular tissues xylem and phloem. The vascular plants include all seed-bearing plants (the gymnosperms and angiosperms) and the pteridophytes (including the ferns, lycophytes, and horsetails). Also called tracheophyte.
Bryophyte:	A large group of seedless green plants including the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Bryophytes lack the specialized tissues xylem and phloem that circulate water and dissolved nutrients in the vascular plants. Bryophytes generally live on land but are mostly found in moist environments, for they have free-swimming sperm that require water for transport. In contrast to the vascular plants, the gametophyte (haploid) generation of bryophytes constitutes the larger plant form, while the small sporophyte (diploid) generation grows on or within the gametophyte and depends upon it for nutrition.
Lichen:	The mutualistic symbiotic association of a fungus with an alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. The fungal component of a lichen absorbs water and nutrients from the surroundings and provides a suitable environment for the alga or cyanobacterium. These live protected among the dense fungal hyphae and produce carbohydrates for the fungus by photosynthesis. Owing to this partnership, lichens can thrive in harsh environments such as mountaintops and polar regions. The more familiar lichens grow slowly as crusty patches, but lichens are found in a variety of forms, such as the tall, plantlike reindeer moss. The association between the different organisms in a lichen is so close that lichens are routinely referred to as a single organism, and scientists classify lichens using the name of the fungal component.

(Definitions from: American Heritage Science Dictionary)

Growth Habit

Intro paragraph to be provided by New York.

Vine:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.
Shrub:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.
Tree:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.
Et cetera:	DESCRIPTION TO BE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK.

State Rank

This numeric rank provides the relative rarity for each species based on a scale from 1 (very rare) to 5 (common). These ranks carry no legal status.

S1 - Typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state.
S2 - Typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state.
S3 - Typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in the state.
S4 - Apparently secure in the state.
S5 - Demonstrably secure in the state.
SE - State exotic or non-native.
SH - Historically known from the state, but not seen in the past 15 years.
SNA - Species for which a rank is not applicable. This is mainly those species which are now excluded from flora for various reasons.
SNR - Not yet ranked.
SX - Apparently extirpated from the state.

Global Rank

Each species' global rank is determined by NatureServe. These ranks carry no legal weight. The global rank reflects the species worldwide rarity.

G1 - Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences), or very few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or especially vulnerable to extinction because of some factor of its biology.
G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G3 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G4 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
GH - Historically known, with the expectation that it might be rediscovered.
GNA - Species for which a rank is not applicable. NatureServe does not typically rank hybrid species.
GNR - Not yet ranked.
GX - Species believed to be extinct.

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Filter by County - Counties to Exclude - ANY versus ALL

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Associated Ecological Communities

View a List of All Ecological Communities

For more information, contact: Richard Wunderlin or Bruce Hansen, Alan Franck, or Karla Alvarado

Web Development: USF Water Institute

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Citation Information:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2024. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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Definition: Vouchered Specimen

A voucher specimen is a pressed and thoroughly dried plant sample deposited in a herbarium, and is intended to be a permanent record supporting research purposes. A voucher may be a record of a plant's occurrence in a particular area, or a specific example of a plant used in a scientific investigation.

Proper vouchers display all the necessary attributes for complete identification of the plant, and are to be accompanied by accurate locality, habitat, collection time, and collector data.

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