Species Details

Ophioglossum pusillum

northern adder's-tongue

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Species Description:

Ophioglossum pusillum, commonly known as northern adder's-tongue, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Ophioglossaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Marshes and swamps (margins), and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 1000 to 2000 meters. Ophioglossum pusillum is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Ophioglossum pusillum Raf.
Common Name: northern adder's-tongue
Family:	Ophioglossaceae
Element Code:	PPOPH020F0
USDA Plants Symbol:	OPPU3
Synonyms/Other Names: Ophioglossum vulgatum L.
Name Status:	JEP, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2024-06-04

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb

Blooming Period: Jul

Elevation:
1000 - 2000 meters
3280 - 6560 feet

General Habitats:

Meadows and seeps
Marshes and swamps (margins)

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Rediscovered near Howard Lake in 1998. Endangered in OR, and state-listed as Threatened in WA.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	3
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	3	60 %
Grazing	2	40%
Improper burning regime	1	20%
Other	1	20%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					5
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	1	1	0	0	3

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	3
Recent <=20 Years	2

Presence:
Presumed Extant	5
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Alaska (AK), California (CA), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), District of Columbia (DC), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kentucky (KY), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Dakota (SD), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
El Dorado (ELD), Lake (LAK), Mendocino (MEN), Siskiyou (SIS)*

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Buck Rock (3912288), City of Mount Shasta (4112233)*, Crockett Peak (3912247), Leech Lake Mtn. (3912381), Loon Lake (3812083)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory