Botrychium Research

I am currently working on the population biology and reproductive ecology of a group of ferns called the moonworts (genus Botrychium). I have projects underway on several aspects of Botrychium biology/ecology including demography, phenology, longevity, recruitment, stem-root morphology, population viability analysis modeling, conservation management, and transplant experiments. I am monitoring Botrychium research plots in several midwestern and western states including Alaska.

FAQS about Moonworts

1. What is a moonwort? Moonworts are small ferns in the genus Botrychium. Many species in this genus are rare and protected.
   
2. Where do they grow? Moonworts are found worldwide in a variety of habitats including grasslands, beaches and forests. The greatest diversity of species is found in the northern latitudes.
   
3. What do they look like? Moonworts, produce a small, single leaf (2-10 cm) that is divided into a once- or twice-pinnate sterile segment, known as the trophophore, and a once to trice-pinnate fertile segment, known as the sporophore. The underground rhizome is upright and short with mycorrhizal stem and roots and a single leaf-producing bud at the apex. Some species reproduce asexually via underground gemmae (pin-head sized). The plants generally produce 1 leaf annually although it is common for Botrychium to remain dormant underground, not producing an above-ground leaf each year.
   
   
4. Why are they rare? The subgenus Botrychium contains several species that are considered rare or uncommon. Whereas many species of Botrychium are truly rare, others only appear to be rare because of their small size, difficulty of finding, difficulty of identifying, and, until recently, the low number of field investigators actively looking for them. In addition Botrychium are able to remain dormant for several years, and in some species they develop, but remain undetected under thick litter. Several of the species in this genus are listed as endangered and have very limited distributions. In Minnesota, Botrychium gallicomontanum, Frenchman's Bluff Moonwort, is known only from two sites worldwide in northwestern, Minnesota. Three species are officially listed as endangered in Minnesota (B. gallicomontanum, B. oneidense, B. pallidum), three species are listed as threatened (B. lanceolatum, B. lunaria and B. rugulosum) and four species are listed as special concern (B. campestre, B. mormo, B. simplex, B. minganense). Similar situations occur in other states.
   
   
   
5. What research is being done in the Johnson-Groh Gustavus laboratory that contributes toward understanding their biology and increased protection? In my laboratory we are studying their ecology and responses to management such as fire, timber harvest and herbicide application. Understanding their life history and ecology will allow us to determine management practices that conserve these species.
   

• Johnson-Groh, C. L. and Jennifer Lee. 2002. Phenology and demography of two species of Botrychium (Ophioglossaceae). Am. J. Bot. 89:1624-1633.
  
  
• Johnson-Groh, C. L., Chanda Riedel, Laura Schoessler and Krissa Skogen. 2002. Below-ground distribution and abundance of Botrychium gametophytes and juvenile sporophytes. Am. Fern J. 92:80-92.
  
  

• Stensvold, Mary Clay, Donald R. Farrar, and Cindy Johnson-Groh. 2002. Two New Species of Moonworts (Botrychium subg. Botrychium) from Alaska. Am. Fern J. 92:150-160.
  
  

• Johnson-Groh, Cindy L. 2002-1997. Permanent Plot Monitoring of Moonworts (Botrychium) in the Lostine Canyon, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon. Submitted to Wallowa National Forest, USDA.
  
  

• Johnson-Groh, Cindy L. 2002-1998. Permanent Plot Monitoring of Moonworts (Botrychium) in Yakutat, Alaska, Tongass National Forest. Submitted to Tongass National Forest, USDA.
  
  

• 2003-99. Botrychium workshops. Leader of forest service workshops on ecology and systematics of Botrychium in Minnesota, Washington, Idaho, Utah.
  
  

• Johnson-Groh, C. L. 1998. Population demographics, underground ecology and phenology of Botrychium mormo. Chapters in "Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) for the Goblin Fern (Botrychium mormo)." Conservation Biology Strategy Group and Chippewa National Forest, USDA, Final Report.