Ophioglossum vulgatum

Adder's tongue doesn't look much like a fern. It is made up of a single leaf and a stem-like stalk, which carries the spores. The spore-bearing stalk resembles the tongue of a snake, which is where the name comes from. When the stalk is mature, it extends beyond the leaf blade. The stalk is made up of segments, between 10-40 on each side. In some years, no stalk and therefore no spores are formed. Just like mushrooms, the plant itself is underground and often produces a leaf. But years can go by when no leaf is seen.

polyphyllum: with many leaves

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Gebel Elba.

Africa, Portugal, Arabia, northern India & Afghnistan.

Ophioglossum pringlei Underw. ex Conz.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ophioglossum dudadae Mickel:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ophioglossum polyphyllum A. Braun ex Schub.:
Azores (Africa & Madagascar)
China (Asia)
India (Asia)
Canary Islands (Africa & Madagascar)
Saudi Arabia (Asia)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ophioglossum vulgatum L.:
Canada (North America)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)
China (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Roots to 20 per plant, 0.3-0.9 mm diam., producing proliferations. Stem upright, to 1 cm, 3 mm diam., leaves 1 per stem. Trophophore stalk formed abruptly at base, to 5mm, sometimes more, 0.05 times length of trophophore blade. Trophophore blade erect to spreading, usually plane when alive, dark green, somewhat shiny, mostly ovate to ovate-trowel-shaped, widest in proximal half, to 10 × 4cm, firm, herbaceous, base tapering abruptly, apex rounded; venation complex-reticulate with included free veinlets in areoles. Sporophores arising at ground level, stalk 2-4 times length of trophophore; sporangial clusters 20-40 × 1-4 mm, with 10-35 pairs of sporangia, apiculum 1-1.5mm. 2 n =ca.1320.

Height: 4-10 cm.

Ophioglossum pycnostichum (Fernald) A.Löve & D.Löve; O. vulgatum var. pycnostichum Fernald

Sandy and silty soil.

Leaves appearing spring-early summer. Shaded secondary woods, rich wooded slopes, forested bottomlands, and floodplain woods, south of Wisconsin glaciation; 0-800m; Ala., Ariz., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.; Mexico; Eurasia.

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
amphigenous, effuse colony of Curvularia dematiaceous anamorph of Curvularia crepinii parasitises live leaf of Ophioglossum vulgatum
Remarks: season: 7-8

Perennial herb.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 5
Specimens with Barcodes: 8
Species With Barcodes: 1

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure