Ophioglossum - Ophioglossaceae

Ophioglossum caroticaule J.E. Burrows

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

Photo: JE. Burrows
South Africa

Photo: JE. Burrows
South Africa

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Rhizome short, 4-14 x 2-3.3 mm, ellipsoid to spindle-shaped, no persistent leaf bases present; roots descending, sometimes becoming horizontal. Leaves mid-green, up to 2 but mostly 1, held at c.75° from the horizontal. Petiole 1.8-3.7 cm long, subterranean for about half of its length, petiole:lamina lenght ratio ±1:1. Sterile lamina 14-39 × 2.5-5 mm, width:lenght ratio 4.8-9.5:1, very narrowly elliptic in outline, apex pointed, base gradually diminishing in breadth, venation linear or elongate, with a few included veinlets and secondary veins confined to the margin. Fertile lamina often concave above; fertile segment 3-6 cm long, petiole:lamina lenght ratio 1.9:1, inserted at or just above the base of the lamina. Sporangia 6-19 pairs.

Notes

O. gracillimum, O. lusoafricanum and O. sandiae are, like O. caroticaule, narrow leaved Ophioglossum species. The leaf width:length ratio of O. caroticaule (1:7.2) differs from O. gracillimum (1:10-20) and O. sandiae (1:4.5). O. lusoafricanum has a leaf width: length ratio of 1:7-9 and a slender, linear rhizome.

Derivation

caroticaule: rhizome resembling a carrot.

Habitat

Seasonally wet areas over sheetrock among scrub and short grasses along streams, shallow soils beneath seasonally dry deciduous woodland, sometimes in high altitude grassland.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania , Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Growth form

Lithophytic, terrestrial.

Literature

  • Burrows, J.E. & Johns, R.J. (2001) Ophioglossaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Pages 12 - 13. (Includes a picture).
  • Burrows, J.E. & Edwards, T.J. (1993) Nomenclatural changes and additions to the genus Ophioglossum in Africa.Bothalia, 23 (2) Page 186. (Includes a picture).
  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature. Pages 120 - 121. (Includes a picture).
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 32.
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Page 33.
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