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Botrychium echo

W.H. Wagner

Reflected Moonwort

G4Apparently Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132177
Element CodePPOPH010M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassOphioglossopsida
OrderOphioglossales
FamilyOphioglossaceae
GenusBotrychium
Other Common Names
Echo Moonwort (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2014-09-02
Change Date2014-09-02
Edition Date2014-07-30
Edition AuthorsMaybury, K. and S. Spackman, rev. D. Culver, rev. Spackman, S. and D. Anderson (2000), rev. Handwerk, J. (2013), rev. Handwerk, J. (2014)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Known from nearly 100 occurrences which are scattered across the mountainous regions of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Also reported but unconfirmed for British Columbia in 2013.
Range Extent Comments
Known from Central Colorado southwest through southern Utah to northern Arizona and New Mexico (Farrar 2014; SEINet 2014).
Occurrences Comments
The majority of documented occurrences are from Colorado, where over 80 occurrences are reported (CNHP 2014). There are approximately 10 locations in New Mexico and several in Arizona (SEINet 2014). Per Ben Franklin (pers. comm. Feb 1996) there is one historical occurrence in the Unita Basin documented by Holmgren, but there is a question as to its correct taxonomy.
Threat Impact Comments
This species naturally occurs on disturbed sites, therefore it is somewhat tolerant. However, it appears to be preferred browse for wildlife and it cannot withstand trampling from sheep grazing. Primary threats are habitat loss, road maintenance, recreation, succession, overgrazing, effects of small population size, sedimentation, timber harvest, exotic species invasion, global climate change, and pollution. Because most of the known occurrences are small, they are also threatened by stochastic processes (Anderson 2003).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Grassy slopes, roadsides, and at the edges of lakes at elevations between 2900 and 3350 m. Usually in gravelly soils. Disturbed subalpine forest sites (e.g. avalanche chutes, gravel bars, logged areas) (Flora of North America 1993).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
ColoradoS3Yes
ArizonaS1Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
UtahS1Yes
WyomingS1Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
New Mexico (2)
AreaForestAcres
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
References (8)
  1. Culver, Denise. 1996. Personal communication regarding <i>Botrychium echo</i>. Arizona Game and Fish Department.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 1. Introduction. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxi + 372 pp.
  4. Franklin, Ben. 1996. Utah Natural Heritage Program. Personal communication with Denise Culver regarding <i>Botrychium echo</i>.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Lellinger, D.B. 1985. A field manual of the ferns and fern-allies of the U.S. and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. 389 pp.
  7. Spackman, S., B. Jennings, J. Coles, C. Dawson, M. Minton, A. Kratz, C. Spurrier, and T. Skadelandl. 1996. Colorado rare plant field guide. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins.
  8. Wagner, W.H., Jr., and F.S. Wagner. 1983. Two moon-worts of the Rocky Mountains; <i>Botrychium hesperium</i> and a new species formerly confused with it. American Fern J. 73(2): 53-62.