WATKINS, JR., JAMES E.* AND J. DAN PITTILLO. Iowa State University, Department of Botany, 353 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA, 50011. Western Carolina University, Department of Biology, 132 Natrual Sciences Bldg., Cullowhee, NC 28723. - The Conservation Status of Ophioglossaceae in the Southeastern United States.
In the Southeastern region of the United States (Virginia west to S
Illinois and Arkansas) the Ophioglossaceae are represented by six
species of Ophioglossum, ten species of Botrychium, and
a single species of Cheiroglossa. In the genus
Botrychium there are three species of moonworts (subgenus
Botrychium), five species of grapeferns (subgenus
Sceptridium) and B. virginianum, the rattlesnake fern in
subgenus Osmundopteris. Of these, 12 species are state-listed
as endangered, threatened or of special concern. These include B.
lunarioides listed as special concern in Alabama, Florida,
Mississippi, and Louisiana; B. biternatum threatened in
Illinois; B. jenmanii of historical distribution in Alabama
and Virginia, special concern in Louisiana, significantly rare in
North Carolina, and threatened in Tennessee; B. multifidum
endangered in Illinois, significantly rare in Virginia, and candidate
in North Carolina; B. oneidense of special concern in
Tennessee, significantly rare in Virginia, and candidate in North
Carolina; B. lanceolatum significantly rare in North Carolina
and threatened in Virginia; B. matricarifolium of special
concern in Tennessee, significantly rare in North Carolina, and
endangered in Illinois; B. simplex listed as historical in
Virginia, candidate in North Carolina and endangered in Illinois;
O. crotalophoroides of special concern in Tennessee and
significantly rare in North Carolina; O. englemannii of
special concern in Alabama and Georgia; O. petiolatum
historical in Virginia; and Cheiroglossa palmata as federally
endangered and imperiled in Florida. Special problems regarding the
conservation of these are discussed
Key words: Botrychium, Conservation, Southeast