Botrypus Richard. Common name: Rattlesnake Fern.
A genus of 1 (as currently recognized), or more likely, 3-15 species, perennial herb(s), of Eurasia, the Americas, and Australia. Zhang et al. (2020) removed Sahashia Li Bing Zhang & Liang Zhang (a monotypic genus of e. Asia) from Botrypus, rendering Botrypus monophyletic (for now). There is increasing evidence, morphological and molecular, that additional species should be recognized (Zhang et al. 2020; Zhang & Zhang 2022).
ID notes: Botrypus has a large, very finely divided sterile leaf blade distinguishing it from all other Ophioglossaceae except perhaps the more dissected forms of Sceptridium dissectum. Botrypus has a bright green color, unlike Sceptridium species, with their dark green, grayish, purple, or bronze colors, and thinner leaf texture than the thick and rubbery leaves of Sceptridium.
References: Hauk, Parks, & Chase (2003); PPG I (2016); Wagner & Wagner (1993) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993b); Zhang & Sahashi in FoC (2013); Zhang et al. (2020). Show full citations.
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© Erik Danielson | Botrypus virginianus source | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Botrypus virginianus | Original Image ⭷