Flora of the Southeastern United States

Ophioglossum pycnostichum (Fernald) Á. Löve & D. Löve. Common name: Southern Adder’s-tongue. Phenology: Mar-Jul. Habitat: Bottomland forests, moist loamy soils of successional forests and old fields. Distribution: S. NJ, IN, IL, and s. MI south to GA, MS, and e. TX; s. Mexico.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: O. vulgatum (defined narrowly) is Eurasian. Fernald (1939) provides a number of characters to separate this taxon from Eurasian O. vulgatum s.s. While Wagner in FNA (1993) subsumes "pycnostichum" in O. vulgatum, he points out that "a distinctive large-spored form with a chromosome number of 2n= ca. 1320" occurs "in the Appalachians", suggesting the possibility of cryptic taxa within "pycnostichum" (= southeastern North American O. vulgatum). The best treatment of this complex remains uncertain and needs additional study.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Tn, Va, W, Zhang & Zhang (2022); = Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. pycnostichum Fernald — C, F, GrPl, Pa, RAB, Tat, WV; < Ophioglossum vulgatum L. — ETx1, FNA2, G, Il, K4, Meso1, Mo1, NS, POWO, S13, Sf, Tx, TxFerns, Lin et al (2013). Basionym: Ophioglossum vulgatum L. var. pycnostichum Fernald 1939

Links to other floras: < Ophioglossum vulgatum - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (name change)
• Great Plains: FACW (name change)
• Midwest: FACW (name change)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 4