Ophioglossum latifolium (Prantl) J.E. Burrows

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Ophioglossum latifolium

Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

Ophioglossum latifolium

Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

Ophioglossum latifolium

Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Rhizome spindle-shaped to linear, up to 16 mm long, 1–3 mm wide; roots fleshy, horizontal, sometimes also descending, proliferous;persistent leaf bases not present. Leaves 1 to 3. Petiole up to 28 mm long, 80–90% of its length subterranean. Sterile lamina 9-24 × 6-18 mm, bright green, appressed to, or held slightly off, the ground, broadly ovate, usually flat, sometimes slightly folded along the median line, length:width ratio 1.2–1.6:1, apex variable from rounded to pointed, base broadly wedge-shaped to truncate, margins flat and even; fertile spike (33–)50–82(–103) mm long, with (8–)11–14(–19) pairs of sporangia.
Notes: Could be confused with O. rubellum that has a carrot-shaped rhizome and dark green leaves with an orange to reddish tinge.
Derivation of specific name: latifolium: broad-leaved
Habitat: Terrestrial, in shallow seasonally moist soils overlaying sheetrock, and in deciduous woodland.
Altitude range: (metres) 800 - 1300 m
Worldwide distribution: Angola, DRC, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution: N,C
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: Saturday 18 May 2013
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. & Johns, R.J. (2001). Ophioglossaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 11 - 12. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Edwards, T.J. (1993). Nomenclatural changes and additions to the genus Ophioglossum in Africa (Ophioglossaceae: Pteridophyta) Bothalia 23(2) Pages 188 - 189.

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 33.

Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Pages 34 - 35.


Other sources of information about Ophioglossum latifolium:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Ophioglossum latifolium

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ophioglossum latifolium
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Ophioglossum latifolium
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Ophioglossum latifolium
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Ophioglossum latifolium
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Ophioglossum latifolium
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Ophioglossum latifolium
JSTOR Plant Science: Ophioglossum latifolium
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Ophioglossum latifolium
Plants of the World Online: Ophioglossum latifolium
Tropicos: Ophioglossum latifolium
Wikipedia: Ophioglossum latifolium


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Ophioglossum latifolium.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=100290, retrieved 28 March 2024

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