Flora of North America species comparison

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Ophioglossum californicum

California Adder's-tongue
Roots

to 16 per plant, pale brown, 0.5-1 mm diam., producing proliferations.
Stem

upright, to 1.6 cm, 5mm diam., commonly 2 leaves per stem.
Trophophore

stalk 0-1.8cm, to 2.5 times length of trophophore blade.;

trophophore blade erect to spreading, commonly ± folded when alive, green, dull, without pale central band when dried, to 4.3 × 1 cm (rarely 0.4 × 0.3 mm), herbaceous, thick, gradually tapering to base, apex attenuate;

venation complex-reticulate, with numerous parallel narrow areoles, each with 1-several included veinlets.
Sporophores

arising near ground level, 1-2.5 times length of trophophore;

sporangial clusters 8-15 × 1-3 mm, with 8-15 pairs of sporangia, apiculum 0.3-1 mm.

Ophioglossum californicum
Phenology Leaves appearing in late winter and early spring; apparently absent during dry years.
Habitat Open grassy fields and prairies
Elevation 50-300 m (200-1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Ophioglossum californicum differs from the Old World species O. lusitanicum in that O. lusitanicum has a narrowly linear to linear-oblanceolate trophophore that is 1/4 to 1/2 as wide as long; O. lusitanicum also has a much simpler venation and usually lacks an apiculum.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Ophioglossaceae > Ophioglossum
Sibling taxa
O. crotalophoroides, O. engelmannii, O. nudicaule, O. petiolatum, O. pusillum, O. vulgatum
Synonyms O. lusitanicum subsp. californicum
Name authority Prantl: Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 1: 355. (1883)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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