Ophioglossum reticulatum
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Photo: Petra Ballings
Stream below Silvermist cottage, Troutback
Photo: Petra Ballings
Frog 'n' Fern Cottages, Chimanimani
Photo: Petra Ballings
Chinziwa Mt., Vumba
Photo: Petra Ballings
Chinziwa Mt., Vumba
Photo: Petra Ballings
Tsetsera
Photo: Petra Ballings
Circular drive, Nyanga N.P.
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| 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: |
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| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | reticulatum: netlike, like a network; referring to the venation pattern. |
| Habitat: | Wet sheetrock mats, wet grasslands, dry forests, forest margins. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Worldwide distribution: | South Africa, tropical Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America. |
| FTEA divisions: | |
| 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. Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22 SANBI, Pretoria Page 213. 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. Malaisse, F., Schaijes, M. & D'Outreligne, C. (2016). Copper-Cobalt Flora of Upper Katanga and Copperbelt Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux Page 64. (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. Meerts, P. et al. (2026). A checklist of the vascular plants of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 277 Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 33. 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. Vollesen, K. & Merrett, L. (2019). Field Guide to the (wetter) Zambian Miombo Woodland. Part 1 (Ferns & Monocots) GVPedia Communications Page 87. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Ophioglossum reticulatum:
Our websites:
Flora of Angola: Ophioglossum reticulatumFlora of Burundi: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of the DRC: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Malawi: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Mozambique: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Tanzania: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Uganda: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Zambia: Ophioglossum reticulatum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ophioglossum reticulatum
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Ophioglossum reticulatumAfrican Plant Database: 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