Ophioglossum caroticaule J.E. Burrows

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Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Rhizome short, ellipsoid to spindle-shaped, no persistent leaf bases; roots descending, sometimes becoming horizontal. Leaves up to 2 leaves but mostly 1, held at c.75° from the horizontal. Petiole up to 3.5 cm long, subterranean for about half of its lenght. Sterile lamina 14-39 × 2.5-5 mm, very narrowly elliptic in outline, apex pointed, base gradually diminishing in breadth, fertile lamina often concave above; fertile segment 3-6 cm long, 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 of specific name:	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.
Altitude range: (metres)	700 - 1500 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution:	N
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	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). 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 Page 32. Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 33.

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Other sources of information about Ophioglossum caroticaule:

Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Ophioglossum caroticaule
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ophioglossum caroticaule
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Ophioglossum caroticaule
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Ophioglossum caroticaule
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Ophioglossum caroticaule
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ophioglossum caroticaule
JSTOR Plant Science: Ophioglossum caroticaule
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Ophioglossum caroticaule
Tropicos: Ophioglossum caroticaule
West African Plants database: Ophioglossum caroticaule