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NZ Plants

Ophioglossum petiolatum - stalked adder's tongue

Family: Ophioglossaceae

  • Fronds are divided into an oval basal segment and a tall unbranched segment with terminal spike

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile frond segments with fertile spikes each with two rows of fused sporangia

    L Jensen

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  • Fertile spike with two rows of sporangia

    L Jensen

    View picture

  • Sporgangia releasing spores

    L Jensen

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Ophioglossum petiolatum is a small terrestrial fern with an erect stem bearing a frond divided into a short sterile, undivided blade and a tall, unbranched fertile spike.
A species found in wetlands throughout New Zealand.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: erect stem with fronds divided into sterile and fertile portions;  sterile portion a shorter, broad undivided blade up to 10 cm long

Frond appearance: fertile portion taller, a narrow undivided spike

Frond stalk, midrib: green stalk and midrib

Sporangium location: on enlarged portion of fertile spike

Frond shape: oval to elliptical

Sporangium position: sunken along the margin

Frond blade: undivided

Sporangia distribution: in two rows

Frond surface: green

Sorus shape: elongate

Leaflets: 0

Sorus covering: o

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