During an on-going floristic project in the interior of Alaska, numerous accessions of Botrychium were made and sent to Warren Herb Wagner for identification. Several of these were of such interest that during the summer of 1999, Herb and Florence Wagner came to Fairbanks where we spent a week collecting moonworts. At least six species were identified including Botrychium lanceolatum, B. lunaria, B. minganense, B. pinnatum, and two new species. Of the two new species, one is currently being prepared for publication. This species, which appears to be related to B. pinnatum and B. boreale will be described as "Botrychium alaskense W.H. Wagner & J.R. Grant". At present, there doesn’t appear to be any need for concern for the habitats of these species, as all seem to thrive best in recently disturbed sites as revegetating river sandbars, maintained lawns, long-fallow agriculture fields, and especially in ditches and along sides of highways. In the interior of Alaska, Botrychium lunaria is the most commonly encountered species with B. minganense following soon thereafter. "Botrychium alaskense" is abundant where found. Botrychium lanceolatum, B. pinnatum, and the second putative new species are infrequently encountered within the large populations of B. lunaria, B. minganense and "B. alaskense". The Wagner’s trip to Alaska represents one of Herb’s last field exercises. A photographic travelogue of the trip, of these moonworts and other pteridophytes of the interior of Alaska will be presented.

Key words: Alaska, Botrychium, ecology, habitats, taxonomy