NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Sceptridium dissectum [= Botrychium dissectum]

Cut-leaf Grape Fern, Dissected Grape Fern

Scientific Name:	Sceptridium dissectum [= Botrychium dissectum]
Genus:	Sceptridium
Species Epithet:	dissectum
Common Name:	Cut-leaf Grape Fern, Dissected Grape Fern
Plant Type	Fern/Clubmoss/Allies
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Ophioglossaceae (Adders-Tongue Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	0-1 ft.
Light:	Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	August, September, October
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Moist forests, clearings, old fields. Common in NC Mountains and Piedmont, rare in Coastal Plain. There are 2 forms: S. dissectum forma obliquum (much more common and widely distributed) and S. dissectum forma dissectum (fairly common in our area only northwards and in the Mountains).
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Fern Frond
Leaf Form:	Nothing Specified
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	No known wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Not Recommended for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Fertile Frond Close Up November 2007, Black Mountain, NC M Baumeister
Frond November 2007, Black Mountain, NC M Baumeister B. dissectum fertile frond emerges from the ground B. virginianum emerges from the base of the branches on the frond
Frond Very dissected, in early spring Tom Harville
spore and leaf fronds Eastern Wake County by Bill Switzer October 2020 The spore and leaf fronds both start from the ground.
Heavily dissected leaves and pinnules with pointed tips. Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record