PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Mingan's Moonwort (Botrychium minganense)

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Photo by Tom Ditzman

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Mingan's Moonwort (Botrychium minganense), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in cool, mixed conifer-hardwood forests, and mesic hardwood forests. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through July.

Botrychium lunaria ssp. minganense, Botrychium lunaria var. minganense

 
 
 

Mingan's moonwort is fern, 3-20cm tall, with one pinnately divided, oblong to laceolate, dull green frond up to 10cm x 2.5cm, containing up to 10 more or less opposite pairs of pinnae lobes, each lobe narrowly fan-shaped. Pinnae lobes are held either flat in the same plane or with only the lowest pair somewhat folded or angled toward one another. Its sporophore (spore producing organ) emerges from the base of the leaf and is 1.5-2.5 times the length of the fronds. Sporangia (round spore-bearing sacs) are borne on once-pinnate spreading branches. Its stems produce one frond per season. Its main roots are mostly 0.5-1mm in diameter. Stipes are 3-13cm long.

It can be distinguished from the very similar B spathulatum by its fewer-branched fertile fronds (once-pinnate rather than twice-pinnate) and leaves that appear earlier in the spring.

Rhizomatous. Fruiting occurs in late-July.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through July.

Associated species include Abies balsamea, Picea glauca, Betula papyrifera, and Thuja occidentalis.

Mingan's moonwort is found in sandy or gravelly soil in cool, mixed conifer-hardwood forests and mesic hardwood forests.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid site preparation that heavily disturbs herbaceous ground layer and soil, including bulldozing and furrowing, as well as grubbing and stump removal.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain thick duff layer if possible. Minimize spread of invasive species including earthworms.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.