Ophioglossum vulgatum, commonly known as adder's-tongue,[1]southern adder's-tongue or adder's-tongue fern, is a species of fern in the family Ophioglossaceae.[2]
The chloroplast genome was reported to have a size of 138,562 base pairs.[3]
Description
Ophioglossum vulgatum is a perennial species.[4] The plant grows from a rhizome base to 10–20cm tall (rarely to 30cm).[citation needed] It consists of a two-part frond, separated into a 4-12 cm rounded diamond-shaped leaf sheath and narrow branchless spore-bearing spike.[5] Leaf fronds are ovate in shape and possess smooth toothless lobes.[6] The spike has around 10-40 segments on each side.[citation needed]
This small, hard-to-spot plant can occur singly in unimproved pastures, rock crevices and grassy path-sides, but also can occur in colonies of hundreds of plants in sand dunes.[citation needed]
In Finland, unlike elsewhere, it grows on seashores, unlike other parts of the world where it tends to be a calciphile. Finland has fitting lime rich soil habitat sparsely, but the plant has found an equivalent living habitat from Finland's seashores affected by a post-glacial rebound: land just risen from the sea is often quite neutral and contains mineral salts in addition to being open and bare enough.[5]
Reproduction
Ophioglossum vulgatum can reproduce vegetatively through new buds that sprout from the rhizome, which allows the plant to from patches.[4] The plant can also reproduce sexually via spores.[5]
Rarity
This species is rare in most European countries. In Ukraine, there were recorded 280 loci: 152 before 1980, after 1980 – 120, as before and after 1980 – 8 locations.[8]
Uses
Traditional European folk use of leaves and rhizomes as a poultice for wounds. This remedy was sometimes called the "Green Oil of Charity". A tea made from the leaves was used as a traditional European folk remedy for internal bleeding and vomiting.[9]
↑ Hao, J., Liang, Y., Zhu, M., Ping, J., Feng, P., Su, Y., & Wang, T. (2021). The complete chloroplast genome of Ophioglossum vulgatum L.(Ophioglossaceae) and phylogenetic analysis. Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 6(9), 2730-2731.
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