A High Polyploid Chromosome Complement of Ophioglossum Nudicaule L

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A High Polyploid Chromosome Complement of Ophioglossum Nudicaule L © 2007 The Japan Mendel Society Cytologia 72(2): 161–164, 2007 A High Polyploid Chromosome Complement of Ophioglossum nudicaule L. f. Marunnan Faseena and John Ernest Thoppil* Genetics and Plant breeding Division, Department of Botany, University of Calicut,Pin Code-673635, Kerala, India Received January 9, 2007; accepted January 31, 2007 Summary The diploid (2nϭ720) and haploid (2nϭ360) chromosome numbers were determined in Ophioglossum nudicaule. The somatic chromosome count was made on the plant for the first time. O. nudicaule is a very high polyploid plant, either exhibiting 48-ploidy, if the basic chromosome ϭ ϭ number is x2 15 or a 24-ploid, originating from the basic chromosome number of x3 30. Key words Ophioglossum nudicaule, Ophioglossaceae, Mitosis, Meiosis, Polyploidy, Basic chro- mosome number. Ophioglossum nudicaule L. f. (Slender Adder’s tongue) belongs to Ophioglossaceae, a family of primitive ferns. It is a tiny terrestrial herb found in dense patches on the thin soil cover over lat- erite boulders in open areas, roadside ditches and lawns. It is distributed throughout Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa and Pacific Islands. In Kerala, it is common in hills and rocky areas all over the Malabar plains and Munnar (Kumar 1998). Previous studies re- port that homosporous ferns show extremely high chromosome numbers. In O. nudicaule different chromosome numbers, viz. nϭ120 (Ninan 1958), nϭ240 (Ninan 1956, Manickam 1984) and nϭ360 (Ghatak 1977) have been reported. So the present investigation is an attempt to find out the exact somatic and gametic chromosome numbers of O. nudicaule. Materials and methods In the present investigation, O. nudicaule that flourishes after the early part of the rainy season were collected from the Calicut University Campus and herbarized (CALI CU.11697). Healthy root tips were collected from young actively growing plants at the time of peak mitotic activity (9–9.30 a.m.). It was washed thoroughly with distilled water and pre-treated in ice-cold dis- tilled water with a trace of saponin. The pretreatment solution was initially chilled at 0–5°C for 5 min and then kept at 12–15°C for 2–3 h under refrigeration. After this, the root tips were washed thoroughly with distilled water and fixed in modified Carnoy’s fluid (1 acetic acid: 3 ethyl alcohol) for 24 h. The fixed and stored root tips were washed in distilled water and hydrolyzed with 1 N HCl for 15 min at 60°C. After thorough washing in distilled water the root tips were stained with modified staining techniques (Sharma and Sharma 1990). Young, developing sporangia from fertile fronds portion of the plants were collected and fixed in 1 : 3 mixture of glacial acetic acid and absolute ethyl alcohol for 48 h. Meiotic study was made by taking out sporangium, which were hydrolyzed in 1 N HCl for 10 min at 60°C. These hydrolyzed sporangia were smeared by conventional 2% aceto-orcein method (Sharma and Sharma 1990). * Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] 162 Marunnan Faseena and John Ernest Thoppil Cytologia 72(2) Fig. 1. Mitotic chromosomes in Ophioglossum nudicaule 2nϭ720. Barϭ10 mm. Fig. 2. Bivalents in meiotic metaphase I stage in O. nudicaule nϭ360. Barϭ10 mm. Photographs of well spread preparations were taken with an OLYMPUS CAMEDIA C-4000 (Zoom Digital Camera) attached to an OLYMPUS CX21 Binocular Research Microscope. Results and discussion Ophioglossum nudicaule possesses a large chromosome complement with numerous, homoge- neous chromosomes, 2nϭ720 (Fig. 1). Meiosis was found to be normal with nϭ360 bivalents at metaphase I stage (Fig. 2). The chromosomes of O. nudicaule were found to be small, with the primary constrictions faintly visible. It is difficult to distinguish chromosomes with secondary constrictions. Close exami- nation of the chromosome numbers reported by earlier workers revealed considerable difference in 2007 Chromosome complement of Ophioglossum nudicaule 163 Fig. 3. Phylogenetical scheme showing the probable evolution of polyploid chromosome number from the basic numbers in O. nudicaule. Barϭ10 mm. the chromosome number. A wide range of haploid chromosome numbers of O. nudicaule were re- ported viz. nϭ120 (Ninan 1958), nϭ240 (Ninan 1956, Manickam 1984) and nϭ360 (Ghatak 1977). So in the present investigation the diploid chromosome count of 2nϭ720 and the haploid count nϭ360 is confirmed in O. nudicaule. Base number of the genus Ophioglossum is controversial. Love et al. (1977) considered it to be xϭ15, whereas Khandelwal (1990) gave xϭ30. ϭ Grant (1981) proposes the original primary base numbers of Angiosperms range from x1 7–9. According to Fernandes and Leitao (1984) primary, secondary and tertiary basic chromosome num- bers exist in plants. So in the present investigation, the very high polyploid number in O. nudicaule ϭ ϭ might have originated from the primary basic chromosome numbers of x1 7 and x1 8. The sec- ϭ ondary basic number of x2 15 may arise either by amphiploidy or by ascending or descending dys- ϭ ploidy (Fig. 3). If we accept this secondary basic chromosome number of x2 15 as the original base complement, then the somatic chromosome number of 2nϭ720 seems to be a ‘48-ploid’. Dur- ϭ ing the course of evolution, this secondary basic chromosome number of x2 15 via proto-auto- ϭ ploidy forms the tertiary basic chromosome number of x3 30. Thus in the present investigation there is a probability that O. nudicaule may be a ‘24-ploid’, having evolved from a tertiary basic ϭ chromosome number of x3 30. Endomitosis seems to be one of the causes of the high level of polyploidy observed in O. nudi- caule. This polyploid fern seems to be thriving well with its original high polyploid chromosome complement without any variations. O. nudicaule seems to be a living example without much evo- lutionary changes. References Fernands, A. and Leitao, M. T. 1984. Contribution a 1Ј etude Cytotaxonomique Spermatophyta du Portugal XVII–Lami- aceae. Mem. Soc. Broteriana 27: 27–57. Ghatak, J. 1977. Biosystematic survey of Pteridophyta from Shevaroy hills, South India. The Nucleus 20: 105–108. Grant, V. 1981. Plant Speciation. Columbia University Press, New York. Khandelwal, S. 1990. Chromosome evolution in the genus Ophioglossum L. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 10: 205–217. Kumar, M. 1998. Studies on the fern flora of Kerala with special reference to Sylvan Valley, Munnar. Research report No. 164 Marunnan Faseena and John Ernest Thoppil Cytologia 72(2) 145. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi. Love, A., Love, A. and Pichi-Sermolli, R. E. G. 1977. Cytotaxonomical Atlas of the Pteridophyta. Vaduz: J. Cramer, Lon- don. Manickam, V. S. 1984. Cytology of thirty species of ferns from Palni hills (South India). Cytologia 49: 49–59. Ninan, C. A. 1956. Cytology of the Ophioglossaceae. Curr. Sci. 25: 161–162. — 1958. Studies on the cytology and phylogeny of the pteridophytes VI. Observations on the Ophioglossaceae. Cytologia 23: 291–316. Sharma, A. K. and Sharma A. 1990 . Chromosome Techniques: Theory and Practice. III Ed., Adithya Books, New Delhi..
Recommended publications
  • 1 Ophioglossidae (PDF, 873
    Ophioglossidae 1 Polypodiopsida Ophioglossidae – Gabelblattgewächse (Polypodiopsida) Zu den Ophioglossidae werden 2 rezente Ordnungen gestellt, die Psilotales (Gabelfarne) und die Ophioglossales (Natternzungenartigen). Die Ophioglossidae sind eine sehr alte Landpflanzengruppe. Die Blätter sind, anders als dies für viele makrophylle Farnpflanzen typisch ist, zu Beginn nicht eingerollt. Ein gemeinsames Merkmal der Psilotales mit den Ophioglossales sind eusporangiate Sporangien, d. h. die Sporangienwand weist mehrere Zellschichten auf (Unterschied lepto- sporangiate Farne, hier einschichtig). Bei einigen Arten der Psilotales fehlt eine echte Wurzel. Alle Arten sind mykotroph (Ernährung mittels Pilzsymbiose im Boden, Mykorrhiza). 1. Ordnung: Psilotales (Gabelfarne) 1.1 Systematik und Verbreitung Die Ordnung der Psilotales enthält nur 1 Familie, die Psilotaceae mit nur 2 Gattungen und 17 Arten (Psilotum 2 und Tmesipteris 15 Arten). Die Familie ist überwiegend tropisch verbreitet. 1.2 Morphologie 1.2.1 Habitus Die Arten der Psilotales sind ausschließlich krautige Pflanzen mit einem kräftigen, unterirdischen Kriechspross (Rhizom), das zahlreiche Rhizoide ausbildet. Echte Wurzeln fehlen. Die vollständige Reduktion der Wurzel wird hier als sekundäres, abgeleitetes Merkmal angesehen. Wie der Gametophyt ist auch der Sporophyt mykotroph, was erst die morphologische Reduktion der Wurzel erlaubte. Die oberirdischen sparrig dichotom verzweigten Sprossachsen weisen eine (angedeutete) Siphonostele mit einem holzigen Mark auf. Die unterirdischen Rhizome haben hingegen eine Protostele. 1.2.2 Blatt Arten aus den Psilotales haben ausschließlich schraubig angeordnete Mikrophylle. Bei Psilotum sind nur die Sporophylle Gabelblätter (im Unterschied zu den sterilen © PD DR. VEIT M. DÖRKEN, Universität Konstanz, FB Biologie Ophioglossidae 2 Polypodiopsida Blättern). Die Photosynthese erfolgt daher hauptsächlich über die chlorophyllreichen Sprossachsen (Rutenstrauch-Prinzip). Abb. 1 & 2: Psilotum nudum, dichotom verzweigte Sprossachse (links); Querschnitt einer Sprossachse (rechts).
    [Show full text]
  • Ophioglossaceae)
    A preliminary revision of the Indo-Pacific species of Ophioglossum (Ophioglossaceae) J.H. Wieffering Rijksherbarium, Leyden INTRODUCTION the of Clausen The differences between most recent complete treatment this genus by and the of a rather fundamental (1938) present revision are, I think, nature. For, though the number of characters Dr Clausen and myselfagree that in troublesometaxa, ‘the small has forced workers base conclusions often trivial .... .... to concerning species on details such leaf characters which be as cutting and size, would not ordinarily considered of fundamental in other from there have followed importance groups’ (l.c. p. 5), on we these characters a different train of thought. Clausen stated (l.c. p. 6) that ‘If were not criteria for it would be reduce the small adopted as species, necessary to species to a very number and the which thereby remove opportunity to keep apart populations appear to be really distinct enough, but for which the characters available for species differen- tiation do not seem fundamental.’ This close comes very to Prantl’s critics (1884, 300) on Luerssen’s treatise where he ob sie the forms which stated: “.... so scheint die Frage, (i.e. Luerssen brought together under O. vulgatum) als Vatietätenoder als ebensoviele Arten zu bezeichnen sein, von untergeordneter Bedeutung zu sein Es gibt eine grosse Anzahl von Sammlern, Floristen etc., deren wissenschaftliches Bedürfnis befriedigt ist, wenn sie auf Etiquetten oder in Katalogen einen aus zwei Worten bestehenden Namen schreiben können; auf ‘Varietäten’ wird eine Rücksicht in der Regel nicht genommen.” In order to facilitate studies based these determinations Prantl then chose small geographical on to accept a species concept.
    [Show full text]
  • Adder's Tongue Fern, Ophioglossum Pusillum
    Natural Heritage Adder’s Tongue Fern & Endangered Species Ophioglossum pusillum Raf. Program www.mass.gov/nhesp State Status: Threatened Federal Status: None Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife DESCRIPTION: Adder’s Tongue Fern is a small terrestrial fern, up to 30 cm (12 in) high, consisting of a single fleshy green stalk (stipe) bearing a simple leaf and a fertile spike. The stipe arises from fleshy, cod-like rhizomes and roots. About midway up the stipe is the pale green leaf, approximately 15 cm (6 in), narrowly oval to oblong. In var. pseudopodium (false foot), the widespread form, the blade gradually tapers for about 1/3 to 2/3 of its length to a narrow, 1-2 cm base that continues to run down the lower stipe. There is a finely indented network of interconnecting veins. The stipe extends well beyond the leaf blade and is terminated by a short, pale green, narrow fertile spike from 1-4 cm long and up to 5 mm wide, which consists of 2 tightly packed rows of rounded sporangia (spore cases) on the margins of the spike axis. There can be a large variation in the size, shape, and position of the blade, as well as of the fertile spike; occurrences of two fronds (leaves) per rootstalk have been observed. The plant appears anytime after early June. Distribution in Massachusetts 1985 - 2010 Based on records in the Natural Heritage Database Photo: B. Legler, USDA Forest Service. Drawing: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions.
    [Show full text]
  • Horsetails and Ferns Are a Monophyletic Group and the Closest Living Relatives to Seed Plants
    letters to nature joining trees and the amino-acid maximum parsimony phylogenies, and 100 replicates for ................................................................. the nucleotide maximum likelihood tree and the amino-acid distance-based analyses (Dayhoff PAM matrix) (see Supplementary Information for additional trees and summary Horsetails and ferns are a of bootstrap support). We performed tests of alternative phylogenetic hypotheses using Kishino±Hasegawa29 (parsimony and likelihood) and Templeton's non-parametric30 tests. monophyletic group and the Received 30 October; accepted 4 December 2000. closestlivingrelativestoseedplants 1. Eisenberg, J. F. The Mammalian Radiations (Chicago Univ. Press, Chicago, 1981). 2. Novacek, M. J. Mammalian phylogeny: shaking the tree. Nature 356, 121±125 (1992). 3. O'Brien, S. J. et al. The promise of comparative genomics in mammals. Science 286, 458±481 (1999). Kathleen M. Pryer*, Harald Schneider*, Alan R. Smith², 4. Springer, M. S. et al. Endemic African mammals shake the phylogenetic tree. Nature 388, 61±64 (1997). Raymond Cran®ll², Paul G. Wolf³, Jeffrey S. Hunt* & Sedonia D. Sipes³ 5. Stanhope, M. J. et al. Highly congruent molecular support for a diverse clade of endemic African mammals. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 9, 501±508 (1998). * Department of Botany, The Field Museum of Natural History, 6. McKenna, M. C. & Bell, S. K. Classi®cation of Mammals above the Species Level (Columbia Univ. Press, New York, 1997). 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA 7. Mouchatty, S. K., Gullberg, A., Janke, A. & Arnason, U. The phylogenetic position of the Talpidae ² University Herbarium, University of California, 1001 Valley Life Sciences within Eutheria based on analysis of complete mitochondrial sequences. Mol.
    [Show full text]
  • Date - December, 2002
    ASSOCIATION of DATE - DECEMBER, 2002 LEADER Peter Hind, 41 Miller Street, Mount Druitt. N. S. W. 2770 SECRETARY: TREASURER: Ron Wilkins, 188b Beecroft Rd., Cheltenham NSW 2 119 E-mail: [email protected] NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Mike Healy, 272 Hurnffray St. Nth., Ballarat. Vic. 3350 E-mail address: [email protected] SPORE BAM<: Barry Wnite, 24 Ruby Street, West Essendon. ~ic.3040 SUBSCRIPTIONSDUE FOR 2003. Please complete the attached form and return it together with your five dollars annual fee to the treasurer A.S.A.P. Ron Wilkins suggested that with members of the Fern Study Group widely distributed throughout Australia, many frequently see names quoted in newsletter items, books, etc. but don't really know who people like Peter Hind, Peter Bostock, Kerry Rathie, Calder Chaffey, Steve Celemesha, etc. are. This Newsletter we will commence a series of bio's. This month we will focus on the Fern study Group leader and a benefactor of the group. WHO IS PETER HIND ? Contributed by Ron Wilkins Well, as everyone knows, he is the leader of the Fern Study Group of the ASGAP. But how much more do you know about him? Peter is a Technical Officer with the NSW Royal Botanic Gardens / Herbarium. He was born in 1947 in Derbyshire, where as a boy he became interested in wild plants and hedgerows. He migrated with his parents to Australia in the early 60's and continued his education in Sydney at the Ryde Horticultural College. After graduation, he worked for 8-10 years in the NSW Botanic Gardens both outdoors, and in the glasshouses where he helped to maintain the orchid collection.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity and Evolution of the Megaphyll in Euphyllophytes
    G Model PALEVO-665; No. of Pages 16 ARTICLE IN PRESS C. R. Palevol xxx (2012) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Comptes Rendus Palevol w ww.sciencedirect.com General palaeontology, systematics and evolution (Palaeobotany) Diversity and evolution of the megaphyll in Euphyllophytes: Phylogenetic hypotheses and the problem of foliar organ definition Diversité et évolution de la mégaphylle chez les Euphyllophytes : hypothèses phylogénétiques et le problème de la définition de l’organe foliaire ∗ Adèle Corvez , Véronique Barriel , Jean-Yves Dubuisson UMR 7207 CNRS-MNHN-UPMC, centre de recherches en paléobiodiversité et paléoenvironnements, 57, rue Cuvier, CP 48, 75005 Paris, France a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: Recent paleobotanical studies suggest that megaphylls evolved several times in land plant st Received 1 February 2012 evolution, implying that behind the single word “megaphyll” are hidden very differ- Accepted after revision 23 May 2012 ent notions and concepts. We therefore review current knowledge about diverse foliar Available online xxx organs and related characters observed in fossil and living plants, using one phylogenetic hypothesis to infer their origins and evolution. Four foliar organs and one lateral axis are Presented by Philippe Taquet described in detail and differ by the different combination of four main characters: lateral organ symmetry, abdaxity, planation and webbing. Phylogenetic analyses show that the Keywords: “true” megaphyll appeared at least twice in Euphyllophytes, and that the history of the Euphyllophytes Megaphyll four main characters is different in each case. The current definition of the megaphyll is questioned; we propose a clear and accurate terminology in order to remove ambiguities Bilateral symmetry Abdaxity of the current vocabulary.
    [Show full text]
  • A Meta-Analysis of the Human Uses of Pteridophytic Species in Tennessee
    University of Tennessee at Chattanooga UTC Scholar Student Research, Creative Works, and Honors Theses Publications 8-2020 A meta-analysis of the human uses of pteridophytic species in Tennessee Diana Sevier University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.utc.edu/honors-theses Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Sevier, Diana, "A meta-analysis of the human uses of pteridophytic species in Tennessee" (2020). Honors Theses. This Theses is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research, Creative Works, and Publications at UTC Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of UTC Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Meta-analysis of the Human Uses of Pteridophytic Species in Tennessee Diana J. Sevier Departmental Honors Thesis The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science Examination Date: July 13th, 2020 Joey Shaw Jose Barbosa UC Foundation Professor of Biology Associate Professor of Biology Thesis Director Department Examiner J. Hill Craddock UC Foundation Robert M. Davenport Professor of Biology Department Examiner Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Meta-analysis .........................................................................................................................1 1.2
    [Show full text]
  • Biology of Ophioglossum L
    Bionature, 27 (1 & 2), 2007 : 1-73 © Bionature BIOLOGY OF OPHIOGLOSSUM L. H. K. GOSWAMI ABSTRACT Ophioglossales are the natural group of early vascular plants which exhibit the most simple and most complicated combinations of characters comparable to bryophytes, pteridophytes, progymnosperms, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Essentially, pteridophytes these plants are often referred and classified as ferns. However, there are some fundamental differences which should not justify their present alliance. The chief "genetic loss" in plants of this group can be presumed to be the loss of capability of producing sclerenchyma. Also, the sporangia are unlike ferns; they do not have an annulus and are supplied with vascular tissue. Additionally, absence of circinate vernation and presence of periderm (in about 22% of Ophioglossum population) make them "unlike ferns". The conventionally recognised three genera, Botrychium, Helminthostachys and Ophioglossum constitute a single family Ophioglossaceae of the order Ophioglossales. Nevertheless, intergeneric differences are so pronounced that recognition of three separate families viz. Botrychiaceae, Helminthostachyaceae and Ophioglossaceae by some taxonomists are quite justified. Botrychium and Ophioglossum are further divided to have subgenera; Botrychium has Sceptridium, Eubotrychium and Osmundopteris, while Ophioglossum has two, viz. Ophioglossum and Ophioderma. Population cytogenetic studies have been carried out chiefly from the localities where more than one species of Ophiglossum grow. Repeated meiotic studies have also been carried out from populations of single or isolated species of Ophioglossum and monotypic Helminthostachys. Numerous teratologies of genetic importance have been described. Role of natural selection is being assessed. Lately, a new specis O. eliminatum is being suspected to have been arisen by natural hybridization and chromosomal elimination.
    [Show full text]
  • OPHIOGLOSSACEAE 1. BOTRYCHIUM Swartz, J. Bot
    This PDF version does not have an ISBN or ISSN and is not therefore effectively published (Melbourne Code, Art. 29.1). The printed version, however, was effectively published on 6 June 2013. Zhang, X. C., Q. R. Liu & N. Sahashi. 2013. Ophioglossaceae. Pp. 73–80 in Z. Y. Wu, P. H. Raven & D. Y. Hong, eds., Flora of China, Vol. 2–3 (Pteridophytes). Beijing: Science Press; St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press. OPHIOGLOSSACEAE 瓶尔小草科 ping er xiao cao ke Zhang Xianchun (张宪春)1, Liu Quanru (刘全儒)2; Norio Sahashi3 Plants perennial, mostly terrestrial, rarely epiphytic, usually small and fleshy, lacking sclerenchyma. Roots lacking root hairs, unbranched or with a few narrow lateral branches [rarely dichotomously branched], fibrous or fleshy, sometimes producing vegetative buds. Rhizome mostly erect, less often horizontal, rarely branched, eustelic, glabrous or hairy. Fronds 1 to few per plant, monomorphic, vernation nodding (not circinate), erect or folded, stipe base dilated, clasping, forming open or fused sheath surrounding successive leaf buds; buds glabrous or with long, uniseriate hairs; common stipe usually dividing into sterile, laminate, photosynthetic portion (trophophore) and fertile, spore-bearing portion (sporophore); sterile lamina ternately or pinnately compound to simple, rarely absent, glabrous or with scattered, long, uniseriate hairs, especially on stipe and rachis; veins anastomosing or free, pinnate, or palmate. Sporophores 1 per frond [rarely more], spikelike or pinnately branched; sporangia exposed or embedded, some- times clustered on very short lateral branches, wall 2 cells thick, annulus absent; spores many (> 1000) per sporangium, globose- tetrahedral, trilete, thick-walled, surface rugate, tuberculate, baculate (with projecting rods usually higher than wide), sometimes joined in delicate network, mostly with ± warty surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Plant Propagation Protocol
    Plant Propagation Protocol for Ophioglossum pusillum ESRM 412 – Native Plant Production Protocol URL: https://courses.washington.edu/esrm412/protocols/OPPU3.pdf ©British Botanical Gardens ©University of Washington Press ©Renee Brecht TAXONOMY Plant Family Scientific Name Ophioglossaceae Common Name Adder’s tongue family Species Scientific Name Scientific Name Ophioglossum pusillum Raf. Varieties None found Sub-species None found Cultivar None found Common Synonym(s) Ophioglossum vulgatum auct. non L. (misapplied) Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. alaskanum (E.G. Britton) C. Chr. Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. pseudopodum (S.F. Blake) Farw. (USDA, 2018) Common Name(s) Northern Adder’s Tongue Northern Adderstongue (USDA, 2018) Species Code OPPU3 (USDA, 2018) GENERAL INFORMATION Geographical range (USDA, 2018) (WADNR, 2018) Ecological distribution Ophioglossum pusillum can be found in habitats with wet soil. Meadow and woodland habitats, marsh edges, and shallow fens are common ecosystems where Ophioglossum pusillum populations have been observed to occur. (Efloras.org, 2018) Climate and elevation Elevation: 3669' - 6932' range Annual Precipitation: 43.3" - 72.1" Summer Precipitation: 1.03" - 1.99" Coldest Month: 33.3° F - 43.6° F Hottest Month: 54.7° F - 65.3° F Humidity: 1.67 - 17.32 vapor pressure deficit (CNPS, 2018) Local habitat and In Washington State, Ophioglossum pusillum can be found in wet abundance meadows, in marshes and alongside river edges. There are several distinct populations found across the Pacific Northwest. Its commonly associated species include Carex aurea, Solidago canadensis, Trifolium repens and Achillea millifolium. (WTU Herbarium Image Collection, 2018) Plant strategy type / Ophioglossum pusillum thrives as an early-successional species, and successional stage can commonly be found in areas that face rapid succession.
    [Show full text]
  • Ophioglossum Pusillum Raf
    Ophioglossum pusillum Raf. synonym: Ophioglossum vulgatum L. (misapplied) Adder's-tongue Ophioglossaceae - adder's-tongue family status: State Threatened, BLM sensitive, USFS sensitive rank: G5 / S1S2 General Description: Adapted from Flora of North America (1993+) and Lellinger 1985: Perennial fern with 1 sterile leaf per stem. Stem upright, up to 2 cm long, 3 mm diameter. Roots yellow to tan, up to 15 per plant, producing plantlets. Leaves solitary. Blade simple, entire, erect or spreading, pale green, dull, soft herbaceous, mostly oblanceolate to ovate, widest at the middle, up to 10 x 3.5 cm, base tapering gradually, tip rounded; venation a complex network, with included free veinlets in spaces. Basal sheath ephemeral, membranous. Reproductive Characteristics: Fertile stem 2.5-4.5 times the length of the leaf; sporangia sessile, arranged in 2 rows on Illustration by Jeanne R. Janish, the unbranched terminal fertile spike. Sporangial clusters ©1969 University of Washington 20-45 x 1-4 mm. Identifiable June to September. Press Identification Tips: O. pusillum is the only member of its genus occurring in the Pacific Northwest. It is easily overlooked because of the superficial resemblance of its leaves to those of monocots. The solitary leaf and solitary terminal fertile spike are important identifying characteristics. Range: Northeastern N.A., west to ND, SD, NE; B.C south to CA, east to ID and MT. Disjunct in AK. Habitat/Ecology: Seasonally wet areas in pastures, old fields, roadside ditches, bogs, fens, wet meadows, flood plains, moist woods, grassy swales, dry or damp sand, dry hillsides, and in seasonally wet, acidic soil.
    [Show full text]
  • A Classification for Extant Ferns
    55 (3) • August 2006: 705–731 Smith & al. • Fern classification TAXONOMY A classification for extant ferns Alan R. Smith1, Kathleen M. Pryer2, Eric Schuettpelz2, Petra Korall2,3, Harald Schneider4 & Paul G. Wolf5 1 University Herbarium, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building #2465, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-2465, U.S.A. [email protected] (author for correspondence). 2 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0338, U.S.A. 3 Department of Phanerogamic Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stock- holm, Sweden. 4 Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abteilung Systematische Botanik, Georg-August- Universität, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany. 5 Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5305, U.S.A. We present a revised classification for extant ferns, with emphasis on ordinal and familial ranks, and a synop- sis of included genera. Our classification reflects recently published phylogenetic hypotheses based on both morphological and molecular data. Within our new classification, we recognize four monophyletic classes, 11 monophyletic orders, and 37 families, 32 of which are strongly supported as monophyletic. One new family, Cibotiaceae Korall, is described. The phylogenetic affinities of a few genera in the order Polypodiales are unclear and their familial placements are therefore tentative. Alphabetical lists of accepted genera (including common synonyms), families, orders, and taxa of higher rank are provided. KEYWORDS: classification, Cibotiaceae, ferns, monilophytes, monophyletic. INTRODUCTION Euphyllophytes Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed a basal dichotomy within vascular plants, separating the lyco- Lycophytes Spermatophytes Monilophytes phytes (less than 1% of extant vascular plants) from the euphyllophytes (Fig.
    [Show full text]