Ophioglossum crotalophoroides Walter

Bulbous Adder's Tongue; Dwarf Adder's Tongue

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Bulbous Adder's Tongue is a native perennial fern in the Adder's-Tongue family (Ophioglossaceae). It is the most common of the five Adder’s Tongue fern species in Alabama. Bulbous Adder's Tongue occurs statewide in Alabama. It is found on roadsides, in lawns, and in cemeteries. Bulbous Adder's Tongue can be distinguished from the other species occurring in Alabama by the presence of a short, thick, vertical, succulent, corm-like underground stem. This species is ephemeral (present for a short period of time), occurring in late winter and early spring and rarely after heavy rains in the summer months. At that time it produces one or two leaves. The leaf has a common stalk that divides into a trophophore (photosynthetic segment) and a sporophore (spore producing segement). The trophophore is lanceolate with entire margins. It is leathery in texture and olive or yellow-green in color. The trophophore usually lays on or very near the soil surface. The sporophore is held erect on a short stalk. It is fleshy with sporangia embedded in two rows. The sporophore usually has a short apiculate tip. The genus name comes from the Greek words “Ophis” meaning snake and “glossa” meaning tongue. The species name “crotalophoroides” is in reference to the resemblance of the sporophore to a rattlesnake’s rattle (Rattlesnakes are in the genus Crotalus). Bulbous Adder's Tongue is an S3 species in Alabama (typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in the state).--A. Diamond

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Native FAC- (NWPL) S3 (State Rank) G5 (Global Rank)

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