Ferns List |
Adder's-Tongue Family [Ophioglossaceae] |
Fronds: |
Spores: |
28th April 2013, a garden, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. | Photo: © Rachel Knowles |
A plant mainly of the South of England. A keen eye is required to spot this plant amidst the same-coloured grass within which it usually grows. Here there are about 7 specimens. Can the reader spot them all? |
28th April 2013, a garden, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. | Photo: © Rachel Knowles |
The sterile blade (larger half-enveloping sheath) is between 4cm and 15cm long. |
22nd May 2015, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
They are short and so incredibly difficult to spot being concolorous with the surrounding grassland. reminiscent of the totally un-related Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum) in both shape and form, with a 'spathe' half-enveloping a 'spadix'. |
28th April 2013, a garden, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. | Photo: © Rachel Knowles |
The fertile blade of a young specimen has grooves ridges where the spores are going to form. |
22nd May 2015, Alt Rifle Range, Hightown, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The soon-to-be-fertile blade emerges from its semi-enveloping sheath. |
28th April 2013, a garden, Bognor Regis, West Sussex. | Photo: © Rachel Knowles |
Taking on its recognisable form with gaps, which should produce spores but many specimens are barren. |
Not to be semantically confused with : Easily mistaken for :
Adder's-tongue grows on grassy places mainly on lime soils and also in dune slacks. It is widespread in the South of the UK. The single spike should bear spore cases (with spores within), but many specimens are barren.
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Ophioglossum | vulgatum | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Ophioglossaceae |
Ophioglossum (Adder's-tongues) |
Adder's-Tongue Family [Ophioglossaceae] |