| Home | > | List of families | > | Ophioglossaceae | > | Ophioglossum | > | convexum |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Rhizome linear, sometimes with persistent leaf bases; roots horizontal. Leaves up to 2 but mostly 1, appressed to the ground or held at 30° from the horizontal, dull midgreen in colour. Petiole up to 2.5 cm long, subterranean for most of its length. Sterile lamina 10-13 × 6-10 mm, ovate to broadly ovate in outline, apex pointed to rounded with a short mucro, base broadly wedge-shaped to truncate; fertile segment 3-10 cm long, inserted at or just below the base of the lamina. Sporangia 6-15 pairs. |
| Notes: | Could be mistaken for O. rubellum which usually has 2 leaves that are held at 10-20° of the ground and have a concave (not convex) upper surface. O. rubellum has dark green leaves with an orange to reddish tinge. |
| Derivation of specific name: | convexum: convex, the leaves have a curved appearance when viewed from above. |
| Habitat: | In South Africa found in montane grassland, on shallow, sandy soils or reddish, sandy loams in high rainfall areas. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1430 m (approx) |
| Worldwide distribution: | Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | C |
| Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 42 - 43. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 36. (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 114 - 115. (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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