Ophioglossum crotalophoroides |
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bulbous Adder's-tongue |
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Roots | to 20 per plant, blackish, usually extremely narrow, often almost hairlike, less than 0.1 mm diam., proliferations not reported. |
Stems | spheric, 3-12 mm diam., succulent, cormlike with perforation at apex, apical meristem located at bottom of cavity through which leaves emerge at top, leaves 2 per stem. |
Trophophore | stalk to 0.6cm, 0.1-0.2 times as long as trophophore blade.; trophophore blade lying nearly flat on ground, not folded longitudinally, pale green throughout, deltate to cordate, to 3 × 2 cm, contracted abruptly at truncate to cordate base, apex with apiculum. |
Venation | coarsely reticulate with included veinlets. |
Sporophores | arising at ground level, 1-5 times as long as trophophore; sporangial clusters usually short, less than 1 cm, 2-3 mm wide, with 3-8 pairs of sporangia, apiculum to 1.5 mm. |
Ophioglossum crotalophoroides |
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Phenology | Leaves appearing mainly in late winter and early spring, sometimes also appearing later in season after heavy rains. |
Habitat | Second-growth fields, vacant lots, roadside ditches, and lawns |
Elevation | 0-100 m [0-300 ft] |
Distribution |
AL; AR; FL; GA; LA; MO; MS; NC; SC; TX; Mexico; Central America; South America; widespread in tropical highlands; West Indies
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Discussion | Ophioglossum crotalophoroides is very remarkable morphologically for its highly modified stem and threadlike nonproliferous roots. The gametophyte is disclike (M.R. Mesler 1973). It is especially common in lawns and cemeteries in the southeastern United States. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 2. |
Parent taxa | |
Sibling taxa | |
Name authority | Walter: Fl. Carol. 256. (1788) |
Web links |