Little Moonwort
EN

Little Moonwort

Botrychium simplex

UnknownENEUENEUNTEUNTEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botrychium_simplex

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Little Moonwort faces severe decline due to habitat destruction from agricultural conversion and urban development across its limited range. The species' extremely small population size and fragmented distribution make it highly vulnerable to local extinctions from trampling, invasive species encroachment, and altered hydrology in its specialized wetland habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the precise moisture and temperature conditions this fern requires for its complex underground gametophyte phase.

Threat summary

Habitat

Little Moonwort inhabits moist, calcareous soils in open wetland areas, including sedge meadows, wet prairies, and alkaline fens. The species requires specific soil chemistry and moisture conditions, typically occurring in areas with consistent groundwater seepage and minimal canopy cover.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Ophioglossaceae

Ophioglossum vulgatumVU

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Unknown
northern moonwortVU

northern moonwort

Botrychium boreale

Unknown
Unshoe-the-horseEN

Unshoe-the-horse

Botrychium lunaria

Unknown
Small Adder's-tongueCR

Small Adder's-tongue

Ophioglossum azoricum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Little Moonwort classified as Endangered?
Little Moonwort is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Little Moonwort faces severe decline due to habitat destruction from agricultural conversion and urban development across its limited range. The species' extremely small population size and fragmented distribution make it highly vulnerable to local extinctions from trampling, invasive species encroachment, and altered hydrology in its specialized wetland habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the precise moisture and temperature conditions this fern requires for its complex underground gametophyte phase.
Where does Little Moonwort live?
Little Moonwort occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Little Moonwort?
The main threats to Little Moonwort are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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