Botrychium lanceolatum is a very small fern, commonly less than 3 inches tall, although it reportedly can be a bit larger. The blade is broadly triangular, the fertile portion of the plant is divided into several more or less equal branches, and the common stalk is relatively long.

Only variety angustisegmentum is present in our area, ranging from northeastern U.S. to Ohio and Wisconsin, south in the appalachians to Tennessee; also in the Rocky Mountains from Montana to Alberta and British Columbia. It is found only in the northern half of Wisconsin. This is a small plant found mostly in our northern mesic forests in rich leaf mold soil of Acer saccharum (sugar maple) and associates.