| Home | > | List of families | > | Ophioglossaceae | > | Ophioglossum | > | thomasii |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome minute, ellipsoid to spindle-shaped, 1–4 mm long; roots few, horizontal, fleshy, proliferous. Leaves usually 1 (rarely 2), almost flat on the ground. Petiole up to 5 mm long, completely subterranean, petiole bases not persistent. Sterile lamina minute, blue-green, becoming orange-yellow with age, oblanceolate to elliptic in outline, 1–8 × 0.3–2 mm, apex rounded to broadly pointed, base attenuate, margins flat; venation simple, usually one median and two lateral veins. Fertile spike 1.5–5 cm long, with 2–7 pairs of sporangia, apex pointed. |
| Notes: | It can be distinguished from other Ophioglossum species by its small size, the smaller sterile leaf and proportionately longer fertile spike. |
| Derivation of specific name: | thomasii: probably named after H.N.Thomas, anthropologist and plant collector. |
| Habitat: | Shallow, sandy, humic soils overlying flat rock, seepage areas, vleis and swampy areas. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1100 - 1650 m |
| Worldwide distribution: | Cameroon, Coté d' Ivoire, DRC, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | W |
| 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 21 July 2013 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 47 - 48. (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 Page 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 Page 35. (Includes a picture). |
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