adder's-tongue fern

Any of various ferns in the genus Ophioglossum, having an erect stem that branches into a single oval blade and a spikelike spore-bearing stalk. Also called adder's-tongue.

[From the resemblance of the spike at the base of the frond to a snake's tongue.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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The abundant plant life includes agrimony, Dyer's greenweed, St John's wort, adder's-tongue fern, cowslip and common twayblade, as well as early purple orchid, common spotted orchid, bee orchid, and greater butterfly orchid, which occur in glades in the scrub.

Guided walks at nature reserve

The area supports a rich variety of plants such as agrimony, dyer's greenweed, St John's wort, adder's-tongue fern, cowslip, and common twayblade, as well as early purple orchid, common spotted orchid, bee orchid, and greater butterfly orchid.

John's still chasing butterflies at 84

Members of Ophioglossales and Polypodiales belong to the division Polypodiophyta and are often called "true ferns." The order Ophioglossales in Alabama include the adder's-tongue ferns (Ophioglossum) and grapeferns (Botrychium).

PTERIDOPHYTES OF NORTHEAST ALABAMA AND ADJACENT HIGHLANDS III: OPHIOGLOSSALES AND POLYPODIALES (Aspleniaceae to Dennstaedtiaceae)

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