adder's tongue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• stalked adder's-tongue

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ophioglossum elongatum
• Ophioglossum moluccanum
• Ophioglossum reticulatum f. complicatum
• Ophioglossum moluccanum f. complicatum
• Ophioglossum vulgatum var. australasiaticum
• Ophioglossum litorale
• Ophioglossum floridanum
• Ophioglossum floridanum f. reticulosum
• Ophioglossum floridanum f. favosum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Ophioglossidae and the order Ophioglossales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ophioglossaceae within the genus Ophioglossum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several key regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is documented throughout the South-Central and Southeast areas. It also inhabits the island of Hainan and the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Moving further east, the species can be found within the borders of Japan. Collectively, these locations highlight its diverse distribution throughout the eastern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ophioglossum petiolatum is primarily characterized by its preference for lowland environments, where it occupies specific niches within tropical or subtropical ecosystems. In these lowland habitats, the plant typically thrives in moist, shaded settings, often found in the understory of forests or near watercourses where soil moisture is consistently maintained. The environmental conditions in these low-lying areas provide the necessary humidity and organic matter required for its growth and reproductive cycles. By situating itself in these lowland zones, the species interacts with a complex web of local flora and fauna, benefiting from the stable temperatures and nutrient-rich substrates characteristic of these low-altitude ecological strata.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Ophioglossum petiolatum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. It adopts a hemicryptophyte life form, meaning its perennuating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or substrate. Furthermore, the species exhibits deciduous behavior, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle, which is a key component of its survival strategy and overall life history.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ophioglossum petiolatum is characterized by its small stature and herbaceous nature, typically functioning as a non-woody herb or forb. This plant maintains a modest height, with an average measurement of approximately 0.09 m and a maximum recorded height of 0.14 m. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and grows as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, exhibiting no parasitic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.14 m

Plant height mean:

0.09 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ophioglossum petiolatum is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and tissue compositions that influence its metabolic processes. The plant features leaves that typically reach a maximum length of 10.5 cm, with a mean width of 3.4 cm, providing a specialized surface area for light interception and gas exchange. Unlike many other members of its family, this species does not exhibit succulence, meaning its internal cellular structure lacks the specialized parenchyma designed for significant water storage, which in turn dictates its physiological dependence on consistent moisture levels in its environment.

Leaf length max:

10.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.4 cm

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ophioglossum petiolatum is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, where the transfer of pollen occurs through non-living vectors such as wind or water. The dispersal of its reproductive units follows an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for seed or spore movement across the environment. This anemochorous dispersal strategy is consistent across its reproductive stages, ensuring the spread of the species via air currents. Furthermore, the plant relies exclusively on sexual reproduction, as asexual reproduction is documented as absent in its life cycle.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

water

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ophioglossum petiolatum has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include OPHIOGLONOL, Ophioglonin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, Ophioglonol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, Ophioglonol prenyl ether, Quercetin-3-O-methyl ether.

OPHIOGLONOL

1. Journal of natural products

Ophioglonin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Journal of natural products

Ophioglonol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Journal of natural products

Ophioglonol prenyl ether

1. Journal of natural products

Quercetin-3-O-methyl ether

1. Journal of natural products

kaempferol

1. Journal of natural products

luteolin

1. Journal of natural products

ophioglonin

1. Journal of natural products

quercetin

1. Journal of natural products