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Adder's tongue fern (Ophioglossum coriaceaum) Crown Range road, New Zealand. Jan 5, 2017. Geotagged,New Zealand,Ophioglossum coriaceum,Summer

Adder's tongue fern (Ophioglossum coriaceaum)

Crown Range road, New Zealand. Jan 5, 2017.

comments (5)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Very cool species :) Posted 8 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  Yeah I like these weird, ancient, Pteridophytes. I just learned that one species has 720 chromosome pairs! Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    What does that mean exactly? Posted 8 years ago
  2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
      
      Lion
      
      Well, chromosome counts are hugely variable and not at all related to complexity: humans have 23 pairs (22 really, plus XY), some worms and ants have a single pair; dogs, chickens and Nepenthes have 78 pairs, sturgeons have 186 pairs, and these Ophiglossum have the highest known count. It's an indication that they're a really old family. Very likely they didn't start off with that many, but that over time, errors in replication of DNA caused duplications, eventually leading to the massive number today. Posted 8 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Fantastic explanation, thanks so much. Amazing what DNA 'errors' lead to :) Posted 8 years ago

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The Ophioglossum coriaceum

Ophioglossum coriaceum is an adder-tongue fern found in Australasia.

Info 1 0

Similar species: Ophioglossales

Species identified by Thibaud Aronson

By Thibaud Aronson

All rights reserved

Uploaded Mar 12, 2017. Captured Jan 5, 2017 12:07 in Cardrona Pass monument Crown Range Rd, Roaring Meg 9384, New Zealand.

country flag of New Zealand

Explore New Zealand 177 144 0

DMC-TZ70
f/8.0
10/10000s
ISO800
4.3mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.