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Alabama Grapefern

Sceptridium jenmanii

Found in moist to dryish forests and disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

11
Modest

Native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Light
Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to wet
Will it fit your yard?

Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

At a glance

Bloom
August to October
Height
0.2–1.2 ft

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 8 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 69 animals.

All wildlife of Alabama

From historical sources

What the old botany books say

These facts were missing, so Quercus searched the Biodiversity Heritage Library for Sceptridium jenmanii and read up to three independent North American books. Every quote was checked word for word against the scanned page. Open a page to read it.

Height: 0.2–1.2 ft From 1 book, needs a second

Botrychium alabamense. North American flora (), New York Botanical Garden

“Plant 7-38 cm. high”

Listed in this book as Botrychium alabamense

Help us verify the height

Read the quote above. How tall do these books say it grows?

3 matching answers from different visitors mark it verified.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

0CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
1BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Botrychium

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Ophioglossaceae
Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Alabama Grape Fern; Botrychium alabamense; Botrychium jenmanii; Dixie Grape Fern; moonwort

Conservation status

Alabama rankS1
Global rankG3G4
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources