Facts About todays 12-month finding (PDF File 14kb)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that the slender moonwort, a small fern that has disappeared from most of its known historical range across five western states and Canada, warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that listing the species under the Act is precluded by the need to first undertake higher priority listing actions.
Slender moonwort is a small perennial fern with pale green leaves two to seven inches long. The plant can live in a variety of habitats such as meadows with tall grass and in forest openings. This species was first described by scientists and given the name slender moonwort in 1994.
"Very few populations of slender moonwort exist today, with a combined total of only about 190 indi-vidual plants," said Anne Badgley, regional director of the Service
