Least Moonwort vs Spathulate Botrychium

Botrychium simplex compared with Botrychium spathulatum

Key Differences

• Least Moonwort is Endangered while Spathulate Botrychium is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Least Moonwort	Spathulate Botrychium
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Tracheophyta	Tracheophyta
Class same	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order same	Ophioglossales (Ophioglossales)	Ophioglossales (Ophioglossales)
Family same	Ophioglossaceae	Ophioglossaceae
Genus same	Botrychium	Botrychium
Species	Botrychium simplex	Botrychium spathulatum

Evolutionary Relationship

Least Moonwort and Spathulate Botrychium share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Botrychium.

Conservation Status

Least Moonwort

EN — Endangered

Spathulate Botrychium

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Least Moonwort	Spathulate Botrychium
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Least Moonwort

Habitat

Inhabits boreal forests and taiga within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (8 countries) and North America (United States). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Spathulate Botrychium

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Distributed across Canada, Norway, and United States.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States