Sceptridium multifidum
leathery grape fern
Ophioglossaceae (Adder's-tongue family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
leathery grape fern
Ophioglossaceae (Adder's-tongue family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Evergreen perennial, 7-30 cm tall.
Trophophores:
Broadly triangular, stalks 2-15 cm long, wintergreen, thick, leathery, smooth, ternate and 3- to 4-pinnate, up to 25-35 cm long and about as wide; pinnae to 10 pairs, all in the plane of the blade; pinnules lopsided egg-shaped, rounded with entire margins.
Sporophores:
2- to 3-pinnate, 1.2-2 times length of trophophores.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Moist to wet meadows, grassy clearings, lake margins, riverbanks, alluvial forests in the lowland and montane zones; frequent south of 55degreeN; circumpolar, N to AK, E to NF and S to MA, NY, WV, OH, IL, IA, SD, CO, AZ and CA; Eurasia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Botrychium multifidum (S.G. Gmel.) Trevis.