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rattlesnake fern
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Rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum)
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rattlesnake fern

plant
Also known as: Botrychium virginianum, Botrypus virginianum
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Rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum)
Rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum)

The rattlesnake fern, also known as the Virginia grape fern (Botrychium virginianum), is a type of grape fern. It is named for its clustered sporangia, which resemble a snake's rattles. The term "rattlesnake fern" can also refer to a chain fern.12

It's important to distinguish this plant from "rattlesnake root," which refers to various plants historically believed to be effective against rattlesnakes or distasteful to them. The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is a venomous snake found in the eastern United States, known for the rattle at the end of its tail.34

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. rattlesnake fern
  2. Virginia grape fern
  3. rattlesnake root
  4. timber rattlesnake

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