Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes - Online edition

Ophioglossum lusitanicum


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Close up of sporophore. © M. Fagg, APII
Habit, showing sporophore. © M. Fagg, APII
Habit, showing sporophore. © M. Fagg, APII
Family

Ophioglossaceae

Botanical name

Ophioglossum lusitanicum L.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/115416

Common name

Adders tongue

Description

Rhizome erect, cylindrical; roots fleshy, spreading; horizontal ones producing vegetative buds often resulting in large colonies. Fronds 1 or 2, 1.5–20 cm tall. Common stipe 5–70 mm long. Sterile lamina 8–35 (–75) mm long, 2–15 mm wide, fleshy, elliptic, ovate to obovate, acute, more rarely obtuse; base rounded to truncate or cuneate and gradually tapering to a common stipe; venation single, usually obscure; areoles variable, as long as wide or elongated. Sporophore 5–120 mm long, on a stipe 5–110 mm long; sterile tip rarely more than 1.5 mm long. 

Distribution

Widespread and scattered across coastal and inland Australia. Also widespread in the Palaeotropics and Neotropics.

Habit and habitat

Terrestrial, usually in shallow soil on rock ledges exposed to full sun.

Cultivation

Readily cultivated in small pots and containers.

Similar species

Ophioglossum lusitanicum is similar to Ophioglossum reticulatum but usually has a thicker lamina with obscure venation.

Citation of Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/intro/index.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

Field AR, Quinn CJ, Zich FA (2022) ‘Platycerium superbum’, in Australian Tropical Ferns and Lycophytes. apps.lucidcentral.org/fern/text/entities/platycerium_superbum.htm (accessed online INSERT DATE).

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