Sceptridium lunarioides (Michx.) Holub

Winter Grape Fern; Prostrate Grape Fern

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Winter Grape Fern is a native herbaceous perennial in the Adder's-Tongue family (Ophioglossaceae). It can be found in the southern half of Alabama. Winter Grape Fern occurs in cemeteries, in lawns, on roadsides, and in pine woodlands. It is a perennial with thick, cord-like roots. The trophophore (the sterile blade that is photosynthetic) appears in late autumn and dies by early spring. It is prostrate and often concealed in the grass. The leaf blade is deltate in outline and up to 5-pinnate. The pinnules are rounded and fan-shaped without a midrib. Their margins are denticulate. Sporophores (the spore-bearing branch) are erect and 2-pinnate. The sporophores remain tightly curled through early winter and become erect in February-March.—A. Diamond

**

Native

**