Ophioglossaceae
Ophioglossum ammophilum C.D. Adams Ophioglossum bergianum Schltdl. Ophioglossum caroticaule J.E. Burrows Ophioglossum convexum J.E. Burrows Ophioglossum costatum R.Br. Ophioglossum gomezianum Welw. ex A. Braun Ophioglossum gracile Pocock ex J.E.Burrows Ophioglossum gracillimum Welw. ex Hook. & Baker Ophioglossum gramineum Willd. Ophioglossum lancifolium C. Presl Ophioglossum latifolium (Prantl) J.E. Burrows Ophioglossum louisii Taton Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. Ophioglossum lusoafricanum Welw. ex Prantl Ophioglossum nudicaule L.f. Ophioglossum pendulum L. Ophioglossum polyphyllum A.Braun Ophioglossum reticulatum L. Ophioglossum richardsiae J.E. Burrows Ophioglossum rubellum Welw. ex A.Braun Ophioglossum sandieae J.E. Burrows Ophioglossum thomasii R.T. Clausen Ophioglossum vulgatum L. ssp. vulgatum Ophioglossum vulgatum L. ssp. africanum Pocock ex J.E. Burrows var. taylorianum J.E. Burrows Ophioglossum vulgatum L. ssp. africanum Pocock ex J.E. Burrows var. africanum Ophioglossum vulgatum L. ssp. kilimandscharicum (Hieron.) J.E.Burrows Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature.
Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.
Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13: 1-222.
Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0: 1-254.
Ophioglossum L.
Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe
Description of the genus
Rhizome globose, subglobose or elongated, fleshy. Fronds devided into a simple leaflike fragment (trophophore) and a simple fertile segment (sporophore), inserted at base of the sterile segment or on the petiole, with a double row of sporangia in a spike near the apex.
Derivation of name: ophis: snake, glossa: tongue; an allusion to the slender, sometimes forked apex above the fertile spike.
Worldwide: c. 30-50 species, cosmopolitan distribution
We have 26 taxa in the database for Ophioglossum.
Literature