Tongass National Forest

Yakutat's new moonwort ferns

Two species of moonwort fern (Botrychium yaaxudakeit and Botrychium tunux) new to science were recently discovered in the Yakutat area. These two ferns only grow in south coastal Alaska.

Elders of the Yakutat Tlingít people provided the names for the new ferns. Yaaxudakeit, honors Yaa Xu da Keit’. He was the leader of an ancient clan living at the base of the mountain now known as Mt. St. Elias, and purchased Yakutat for the Copper River people. Yaa Xu da Keit’was from the Raven moiety and the Kwaashkikwaan (Humpback Salmon) clan. Tunux, honors Tunux, the Tlingít warrior who initiated the 1805 attack on the Russian fort. As a result of the battle, the Russians were removed from Yakutat and never returned. Tunux was in the Eagle moiety and the Teikweidí (Brown Bear) clan.

Seven species of moonworts grow at Yakutat. These ferns are difficult to identify because their distinguishing characters are few and often subtle. Because of their rarity; lack of knowledge about their distribution, ecology or life history; and increasing human-caused disturbance threatening a population of the new species, these plants are of conservation concern.

Click the photo for a larger image of the moonwort fern

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Last Modified: October 21, 2011