Botrypus

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw.20090717.2Edgewood Blue, Wells Gray Park, BC

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 12. 2015Lat.: 46.33 Long.: 13.63 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_886/2015_DSC7186Habitat: Riverine forest of river Soa, dense thicket in light mixed wood, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies dominant trees (Lamioorvalae-Salicetum eleagni s.lat. Dakskobler, ilc & uin) (Ref.:4.); calcareous alluvial ground, flat terrain; humid place, in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 430 m (1.410 feet), average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Lower Trenta valley, left bank of river Soa near Podklanc settlement, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comments: Botrychium virginianum had been long time on my wish list. In spite of the fact that I was told in which wood to search, I've had no success in finding it for several years. This year it finally happened. We found a rich stand of several tens of plants in their best shape plus many young ones without fertile leaf.Botrychium virginianum is widely distributed North American-Euro Siberian fern distributed in Europe in (mostly east part of) the Alps and the Carpathians. It is a rare to very rare, everywhere protected plant growing in montane to subalpine elevations of the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In Switzerland it is very rarely found and marked in the state's red list as 'before extinction or already extinct' (Ref.:6.).Botrychium virginianumis a tender, all green plant growing on secluded places, in mountain forests in narrow dark gorges and riverine woods. It is usually well hidden in deep green ground thickets (see picture 10.) No wonder, it is not easy to spot it. When mature it has two leaves. Green and sterile leaf, which is three to four times pinnate and a yellowish-green fertile leaf, which is two to three times pinnate, baring round sporangia and producing spores. Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Dr. Igor Dakskobler, Institute Jovan Hadi, SAZU (Slovenia Academy of Science and Art) and Mr. Branko Dolinar.(2) M.A.Fischer, W.Adler, K.Oswald, Exkursionsflora sterreich Liechtenstein, Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(3) A.Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije, Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007) (in Slovenian), p 88. (4) I. Dakskobler, Phytosociological and floristic Analysis of Riverine Forests in the Soa Valley, Dissertationes classis Historia Naturalis IV., XLVIII-2, SAZU (2007), pp 25-138.(5) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(6) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw., syn.: Osmunda virginiana L., Botrypus virginianus (L.) Michx., Osmundopteris virginiana (L.) Small, Botrychium virginianum subsp. europaeum (ngstr.) R. T. Clausen, Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum ngstr.Rattlesnake Fern, DE: Virginische Mondraute, Virginischer TraubenfarnSlo.: virginijska mladomeseinaDat.: June 11. 2017Lat.: 46.37 Long.: 13.58 (coordinates not precise)Code: Bot_1064/2017_DSC7951Habitat: Riparian forest; Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, a few Pinus sp. dominant trees; on ground level Mercurialis perennis, Rubus saxatilis, Urtica dioica, Hepatica nobilis, Galeobdolon flavidum, Plantanthera bifolia, Cephalanthera rubra, Listera ovata; young alluvial, flat terrain; in shade, moist place, high air humidity; elevation 525 m (1.700 feet); average precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil.Place: Koritnica valley, between fortress Klue and Log pod Mangartom village, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC.Comment: Botrychium virginianum is a widely distributed fern. It is most common in North America and much rarer in Europe and Asia, where it appears only in scattered, small disjunct regions. In the Alps it is present only in their eastern part. In Slovenia it is a rare plant. Its taxonomy is still 'under construction'. Some experts distinguish two taxa: Botrychium virginianum var. virginianum growing in America and Botrychium virginianum var. (or ssp.) europaeum growing in Europe. Based on DNA research some claim it is a monophyletic species belonging to separate genus Botrypus. Actually it differs from other members of the genus Botrychium in several traits including number of chromosomes. Be it as it may, the plant is very old (more than 100 million years), existing even before other ferns had develop their spore producing organs (sporangia that are usually clustered to form sori) on the underside of their leaves (sporophyll fronds). Botrychium virginianum has its sporangia on separate vertical 'leaf', which is much different than its sterile leaf. Spores are distributed by the wind, so no insects are needed for proliferation. Hence the plant is green, displaying no vivid colors to attract them and us. Hence it is hard to find.Nevertheless, it is always a happy experience to come across this plant, partly because it is rare and partly because it usually grows in dark, secluded, mysterious thickets on rarely accessed places. Eight plants have been found this time, two of them were sterile.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih rastlinskih vrstah, poglavje A, Uradni list RS, t. 46/2004 (Regulation of protected wild plants, chapter A, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 46/2004), (2004).Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by "R" representing a rare species.Ref.:(1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 233.(2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 88. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 64.(4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 48.(5)https://www.infoflora.ch/assets/content/documents/merkblaetter_artenschutz_de/botr_virg_d.pdf