Family · Ferns & allies

Ophioglossaceae

Adder's-tongue & grape ferns

Fleshy ferns with a single divided frond and a separate spore-bearing spike; have the highest known chromosome counts.

Accepted species: 146accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 4accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈138 MaCretaceous · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Northern Americamost native species · WGSRPD

Open Ophioglossaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Ophioglossum
Botrychium

Genera

Botrychium77 spp.
Ophioglossum67 spp.
Helminthostachys1 spp.
Mankyua1 spp.

Where it grows

Northern America61
Asia-Temperate46
Asia-Tropical34
Africa30
Southern America22
Europe20
Australasia12
Pacific10
Antarctic3

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Ophioglossaceae sits in the order Ophioglossales.