Ophioglossum gramineum

Ophioglossaceae

Ophioglossum gramineum Willd.

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/115359

Rhizome erect, ovoid to shortly cylindrical; roots fleshy. Fronds erect, 4–18 cm tall, leaf bases not persistent. Common stipe 10–70 mm long. Sterile lamina 10–80 mm long, 1–6.5 mm wide, at least 6 times as long as broad, fleshy, sometimes not developed, linear to linear-elliptic, rarely linear-oblanceolate, gradually tapering, attentuate; venation of a single set of primary areoles including free veinlets. Sporophore 6–50 mm long, on a stipe 3.5–13 cm long; sterile tip 1–5 mm long. 

Scattered across tropical and subtropical WA, NT and QLD. Also widespread throughout Palaeotropics.

Terrestrial, usually in shallow soil on rock shelfs exposed to sunlight, or in open woodland in shallow moist soils.

As for O. lusitanicum.

Ophioglossum gramineum is the only Australian species that often has no lamina, emerging as a simple fertile spike.