Ophioglossum coriaceum. Photo: Jeremy Rolfe.The Ophioglossaceae is a family of ferns that includes adder tongues, grape ferns and moonworts. There are four genera worldwide: Botrychium, Ophioglossum, Helminthostachys and Mankyua.
Ferns in this family are characterised by several features:
- A single leaf or frond that is divided into a sterile green blade and a fertile spike that supports embedded sporangia
- Production of eusporangia (as opposed to leptosporangiate ferns)
- Subterranean gametophytes
For more information see:
- Ophioglossaceae (Wikipedia)
- Ophioglossaceae - Flora of North America
- Ophioglossaceae - University of Wisconsin
- Ophioglossaceae - University of Auckland