Botrypus virginianus (Rattlesnake Fern) with uncoiling sporophore.
Botrypus virginianus (Rattlesnake Fern) with uncoiling sporophore (fertile frond) found in a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest in northern Minnesota. The soil, a fine sandy loam, was moist with a moderate amount of humus. Several plants were found in the immediate area growing in light shade. A synonym, now obsolete, for this species is Botrychium virginianum.
''Botrypus virginianus'', sometimes called rattlesnake fern is a species of perennial fern in the adders-tongue family. It is monotypic within the genus ''Botrypus'', meaning that it is the only species within the genus. It is called the rattlesnake fern in some parts of North America, due to its habit of growing in places where rattlesnakes are also found. Rattlesnake fern prefers to grow in rich, moist woods in dense shade and will not tolerate direct sunlight.
