Rugulose Grape Fern. Summary. Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally.

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1 Rugulose Grape Fern Botrychium rugulosum Scientific Name Family Name Botrychium rugulosum W.H. Wagner Ophioglossaceae adder's-tongue family Photo credits: Stephen M. Young Did you know? This fern often occurs in the company of other similar-looking grapeferns. If many individuals are seen in one population they must be carefully examined to identify separate species. The species name comes from the Latin "ruga", meaning wrinkled, and refers to the wrinkled surface of the leaf. Summary Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally. Rarity G3, S1 This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 5 or fewer extant sites, or 2) fewer than 1,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to fewer than 4 U.S.G.S. 7 ½ minute topographical maps, or 4) species listed as endangered by U.S. Department of Interior. A global rarity rank of G3 means: This species is either rare and local throughout its range (21 to 100 occurrences), or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g. a single physiographic region), or is vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors. A state rarity rank of S1 means: This plant is endangered/critically imperiled in New York because of extreme rarity (typically 5 or fewer populations or very few remaining individuals) or is extremely vulnerable to extirpation from New York due to biological factors. Conservation Status in New York There are two existing populations with only one to a few plants in each population. There are eight historical populations but none of them has been seen since the late 1940s. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rugulose Grape Fern (Botrychium rugulosum)

2 Short-term Trends It is very difficult to ascertain a short-term trend since populations are small and plants do not appear every year. Long-term Trends This fern was never common in the state but changes in agricultural use and habitat development have probably resulted in a decrease in populations. None of the historical populations have been rediscovered and only two new populations are known. Conservation and Management Threats This fern appears to be stimulated by grazing so changes in grazing patterns and subsequent succession could threaten populations. Suburban development south of Oneida Lake has reduced available habitat. Conservation Strategies and Management Practices Grazing and other disturbance patterns need to be maintained around existing populations to prevent succession from changing the open habitat that this fern requires. Research Needs Long-term demographic studies need to be undertaken on existing populations to better understand trends and variation. Habitat This fern is found in old pastures, lightly grazed areas, meadows, and successional northern hardwood forests (New York Natural Heritage Program 2006). In open fields and secondary forests over wide range in vicinity of St. Lawrence Seaway (Flora of North America 1993). Actively pastured open fields and meadows (Wagner and Wagner 1982). Associated Ecological Communities Pastureland Agricultural land permanently maintained (or recently abandoned) as a pasture area for livestock. Successional Northern Hardwoods A hardwood or mixed forest that occurs on sites that have been cleared or otherwise disturbed. Canopy trees are usually relatively young in age (25-50 years old) and signs of earlier forest disturbance are often evident. Characteristic trees and shrubs include any of the following: quaking aspen, big-tooth aspen, balsam poplar, paper birch, gray birch, pin cherry, black cherry, red maple, and white pine. Successional Old Field A meadow dominated by forbs and grasses that occurs on sites that have been cleared NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rugulose Grape Fern (Botrychium rugulosum) 2

3 and plowed (for farming or development), and then abandoned or only occasionally mowed. Other Probable Associated Communities Alvar grassland Successional red cedar woodland Associated Species Cutleaf Grape-fern (Botrychium dissectum) Chamomile Grape-fern (Botrychium matricariifolium) Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina) Flattened Oatgrass (Danthonia compressa) Eastern Hay-scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) Eastern Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum) European Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. idaeus) Narrow-leaved Meadow-sweet (Spiraea alba var. alba) Hardhack Spiraea (Spiraea tomentosa var. tomentosa) Identification Comments Rugulose grape fern is a perennial, evergreen fern. The common leaf stem of the fertile and sterile segments is up to 6 inches long while the leaf stem of the more erect fertile segment can be up to 9 inches long. This spore-bearing portion of the leaf can be up to 5 1/2 inches long. The leaf stem of the sterile leaf can be up to 3 inches long. The sterile leaf blade appears in the middle of May, is green, and grows up to 6 inches long and 10 inches wide. It is divided into two or three broadly triangular leaflets (pinnae). The terminal pinna blade is egg shaped to triangular in outline and the same size as the lateral pinnae. The pinnae are again divided into pinnules which are divided into segments. The terminal pinna are divided into progressively smaller segments up to the tips. The ultimate segments of the pinnules are angular trowel shaped to spoon shaped. The edges have somewhat rounded, wide teeth The upper surface of the leaf is convex and wrinkled when alive. The leaves remain green throughout the winter where they are exposed. Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species This can be a difficult to identify fern. With only a few individuals typically present, we do not want to encourage collection. Instead, to obtain verification of the identity, please take a few photographs of the plant and collect just a portion of the leaf frond. The Best Time to See Leaves for this fern emerge mid-may and fruit develops mid-august through September. This fern can be identified vegetatively, so surveys may be conducted at any point during the growing season. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rugulose Grape Fern (Botrychium rugulosum) 3

4 Vegetative Fruiting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Similar Species The time of year you would expect to find Rugulose Grape Fern in New York. In Botrychium dissectum and Botrychium oneidense the terminal pinna is larger than the lateral pinnae. The pinnules of the terminal pinna are more or less undivided at the tips and are flat and smooth. Botrychium oneidense is usually only found in low shaded forests and swamps where Botrychium rugulosum is found in open habitats. The long stalked pinnae and rather large space between the basal pair of pinnae and the upper pairs will distinguish this species from B. lunarioides and B. multifidum. Botrychium multifidum has pinnules that are rounded, larger and mostly 4-8 mm wide. The leaf surface is flat and without wrinkles. The edges of the ultimate segments of the pinnules have rounded teeth or are smooth. New leaves appear in early May. Botrychium rugulosum closely resembles its Asiatic counterpart, B. ternatum, to such an extent that they were considered the same species until 1982, when Wagner and Wagner (1982) determined that true B. ternatum did not occur in North America. Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Synonyms Plantae Filicinophyta Order Ophioglossopsida Family Ophioglossales Ophioglossaceae (adder's-tongue family) Botrychium ternatum (auct. non (Thunb.) Sw.) Additional Resources Links New York Flora Atlas Flora of North America USDA Plants Database BOTRYCHIUM+RUGULOSUM NatureServe Explorer NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rugulose Grape Fern (Botrychium rugulosum) 4

5 OSUM Google Images Best Identification Reference Flora of North America Editorial Committee Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 2. Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, New York. 475 pp. References Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp. Holmgren, Noel The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery, and map unit tables. Lellinger, David B A Field Manual of the ferns and fern-allies of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 389 Pp. NatureServe NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA New York Natural Heritage Program Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. Wagner, W.H American Grapeferns Resembling Botrychium Ternatum: A Preliminary Report. American Fern Journal 49: Wagner, W.H. Jr. and F.S. Wagner Botrychium rugulosum (Ophioglossaceae), a Newly Recognized Species of Evergreen Grape fern in the Great Lakes Area of North America. Contr. Univ. Mich. Herb. 15: Weldy, T. and D. Werier New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research University of South Florida New York Flora Association Albany, New York Weldy, Troy W. and David Werier New York Flora Atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research. University of South Florida]. New York Flora Association, Albany, NY. Available on the web at ( New York Natural Heritage Program 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY Phone: (518) acris@nynhp.org This project is made possible with funding from: - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program - Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Information for this guide was last updated on Aug 11, 2017 NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rugulose Grape Fern (Botrychium rugulosum) 5

6 This guide was authored by NYNHP Conservation Guide - Rugulose Grape Fern (Botrychium rugulosum) 6