Sceptridium biternatum (Savigny) Lyon. Section: Sceptridium. Southern Grapefern. Phen: Aug-Oct. Hab: Moist forests, clearings, old fields. Dist: MD, PA, s. IN, s. IL, and c. OK south to s. FL and e. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Cao & Hauk (2022) suggested that a morphology ('bayou') previously noticed as distinctive within Sceptridium biternatum occurring along the Gulf Coastal Plain was supported as molecularly distinctive as well and "is consistent with the informal Wagner hypothesis that the “bayou” morphotype may represent an evolutionary unit distinct from S. biternatum"… "We strongly recommend corroboration of the status of the “bayou” morphotype through rigorous analyses of independent data sets based on broad geographic sampling, and that such independent datasets possess strong internal support before formal taxonomic recognition of S. biternatum “bayou” is conferred."

Synonymy: = Il, K3, K4, Tn, Va, Cao & Hauk (2022); = Botrychium biternatum (Savigny) Underw. – Ar, C, ETx1, FNA2, K1, Mo1, RAB, S13, Sf, TxFerns, W, WH3; = Botrychium dissectum Spreng. var. tenuifolium (Underw.) Farw. – F, G, Tat, Tx; = n/a – Pa; < Botrychium biternatum (Savigny) Underw. – Fl1; < Botrychium dissectum Spreng. – WH3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
• Great Plains: FAC
• Midwest: FAC
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily: 5