Ophioglossum reticulatum L.

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Ophioglossum reticulatum

Picture: Petra Ballings
Stream below Silvermist cottage, Troutback

Ophioglossum reticulatum

Picture: Petra Ballings
Frog 'n' Fern Cottages, Chimanimani

Ophioglossum reticulatum

Picture: Petra Ballings
Chinziwa Mt., Vumba

Ophioglossum reticulatum

Picture: Petra Ballings
Chinziwa Mt., Vumba

Ophioglossum reticulatum

Picture: Petra Ballings
Circular drive, Nyanga N.P.

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Synonyms: Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. reticulatum (L.) D.C. Eaton
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Rhizome linear to oval, 10-22 mm long often arising from a horizontal root; roots fleshy, horizontal, proliferous; leaf bases not persistent. Leaves 1 to 2 (sometimes up to 4), held at 50-80% from the horizontal, bright green. Petiole up to 40-130 mm long, 35–60% of its length subterranean. Sterile lamina 24-80 × 20-60 mm, circular to broadly ovate, length:width ratio 1.5–2.1:1, apex pointed with a short mucro to rounded, base deeply notched to truncate, texture fleshy; fertile spike 80–250 mm long, inserted at the base of the lamina or up to 2 cm below the apparent base, with 20–45 pairs of sporangia, apex narrowly to broadly pointed.
Type location:
Notes: O. reticulatum could be confused with O. vulgatum and O. polyphyllum. O. vulgatum has a tapering leaf base and mostly a single leaf that is lanceolate to narrowly ovate in outline.
Derivation of specific name: reticulatum: netlike, like a network; referring to the venation pattern.
Habitat: On seasonally wet soils of bogs and seepage areas over rock outcrops, among grasses in slightly shaded spots.
Altitude range: 880 - 1740 m
Worldwide distribution: South Africa, tropical Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):
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 44 - 46. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (1993). An annotated check-list of the pteridophytes of Malawi Kirkia 14(1) Page 82.

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 108 - 109. (Includes a picture).

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 12.

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 165 - 166. (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 Pages 33 - 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 Pages 37 - 38.

Other sources of information about Ophioglossum reticulatum:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Malawi: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Mozambique: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ophioglossum reticulatum

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Ophioglossum reticulatum.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=100320, retrieved 28 March 2024

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