Ophioglossum vulgatum, commonly known as adder’s-tongue or adder’s-tongue fern, is a perennial herbaceous fern native to a variety of habitats including moist meadows, grasslands, open woodlands, and occasionally in bogs or marshy areas. It is found across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. This fern typically grows from a rhizome base to a height of 4-8 inches tall and features a unique two-part frond: a sterile, rounded sheath-like blade and a narrow, erect spore-bearing spike, which gives the plant its common name due to its resemblance to a snake’s tongue. The spore-bearing spike emerges in late spring to early summer, and the plant is known for its inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers.

Adder’s-tongue fern is valued for its rarity and unique appearance in cultivation. It is not commonly grown in gardens but may be of interest to enthusiasts of native and medicinal plants. In traditional European medicine, it has been used for wound healing and treating internal bleeding. For successful cultivation, it requires consistently moist soil, partial to full shade, and protection from strong winds. While it is not known for being particularly problematic, its rarity in the wild should be noted, and care should be taken to avoid harvesting from natural populations.CC BY-SA 4.0