Rattlesnake Fern

Rattlesnake Fern

Botrychium virginianum

Apparently early botanists were obsessed with rattlesnakes.  In Indiana, there is Rattlesnake Master, Rattlesnake Plantain, Rattlesnake Orchid, Rattlesnakeroot, Rattlesnake Brome, Rattlesnake Mannagrass, Rattlesnakeweed, and Rattlesnake Fern.  Wow!!

I'm sure that they all have their reasons for having Rattlesnake monikers, but the Rattlesnake Fern is so named because its sporophyll resembles a rattlesnake tail sticking up, just prior to striking!

Sporophyll ... looks just like a rattlesnake rattle!

There are typically three leaves that are finely dissected

Where there's one, there are oftentimes many.