Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 1063 (1753).

Synonymy: O. coriaceum Cunn., Compan. Bot. Mag. 2:361 (1837); O. lusitanicum L. subsp. coriaceum (Cunn.)R.T. Clausen, Mem. Torrey Bol. Cl. 19:161 (1938).

Common name: Austral) adders tongue.

Description:
Rhizome short, erect; roots few, thick, producing vegetative buds and often forming large colonies; sterile lamina variable in size and form, 0.8-3.5 cm long, narrow-elliptic or broadly elliptic to lanceolate, in small forms the base cuneate to almost truncate; fertile spike emerging from the base of the sterile lamina or some distance down the petiole; spike 5-15 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm broad, with 6-15 pairs of sporangia borne on a stalk to 7 cm long.

	Ophioglossum lusitanicum
Image source: fig. 22a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cochrane et al. (1980) Flowers and plants of Victoria and Tasmania, fig. 628.

Distribution:  It often forms large colonies on open clay loams, especially in the SL, MU and SE. It is frequently encountered in ranges where it occurs in shallow soil pockets subject to flooding or amongst rocks or along stream banks; often overlooked because of its small size. S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   All States.   New Zealand; New Caledonia; Europe; Asia; North and South America. Conservation status: native Flowering time: No flowering time is available

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Included under this species is the Tepper specimen referred to O. nudicaule L.f. by Clausen (1938), Mem. Torrey Bot. Cl. 19, 2:146, which is considered merely as a small form of O. lusitanicum.

Author: Not yet available