Botrychium ascendens

Upswept moonwort

Family: Ophioglossaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Upswept moonwort is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in southern Cascade Range, central Sierra Nevada, and Sierra Nevada eastern regions in moist meadows and open woodlands near streams or seeps at elevations of 1,500 to 3,200 meters. Although lacking traditional flower information, this delicate fern-like plant emerges with yellow-green trophophores displaying 3 to 6 pairs of thin, ascending pinnae. Growing with a common stalk approximately equal to its trophophore length, it develops narrow lanceolate blades less than 6 centimeters long and 1.5 centimeters wide. Its pinnae have distinctive wedge-shaped margins converging at 30 to 90 degrees, with outer edges deeply dentate or divided, and basal pinnae occasionally bearing sporangia. The plant's fertile sporophore emerges with stiffly erect, slightly separated branches, creating a delicate and intricate botanical structure.

Habitat: Moist but well drained meadows, open woodlands near streams or seeps

Elevation: 1500-3200 m

Bioregions: s CaRH, c SNH, SNE

California counties: Fresno, Tulare, San Bernardino, Mono, Tehama, Butte, Tuolumne

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.