Home | > | List of families | > | Ophioglossaceae | > | Ophioglossum | > | reticulatum |
Synonyms: |
Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. reticulatum (L.) D.C. Eaton |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Rhizome linear to oval, 10-22 mm long often arising from a horizontal root; roots fleshy, horizontal, proliferous; leaf bases not persistent. Leaves 1 to 2 (sometimes up to 4), held at 50-80% from the horizontal, bright green. Petiole up to 40-130 mm long, 35–60% of its length subterranean. Sterile lamina 24-80 × 20-60 mm, circular to broadly ovate, length:width ratio 1.5–2.1:1, apex pointed with a short mucro to rounded, base deeply notched to truncate, texture fleshy; fertile spike 80–250 mm long, inserted at the base of the lamina or up to 2 cm below the apparent base, with 20–45 pairs of sporangia, apex narrowly to broadly pointed. |
Notes: | O. reticulatum could be confused with O. vulgatum and O. polyphyllum. O. vulgatum has a tapering leaf base and mostly a single leaf that is lanceolate to narrowly ovate in outline. O. polyphyllum has conspicuous persistent petiole bases at the top of the rhizome. |
Derivation of specific name: | reticulatum: netlike, like a network; referring to the venation pattern. |
Habitat: | Wet sheetrock mats, wet grasslands, dry forests, forest margins. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1060 - 1550 m |
Worldwide distribution: | South Africa, tropical Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Sunday 23 June 2013 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 44 - 46. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 82. Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 108 - 109. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 12. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 165 - 166. (Includes a picture). Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Page 38. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 8. Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Pages 33 - 34. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 35. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 37 - 38. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Ophioglossaceae | > | Ophioglossum | > | reticulatum |