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