Ophioglossidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ophioglossidae |
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| Botrychium lunaria | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Subclass: | Ophioglossidae Klinge 1882 |
| Type genus | |
| Ophioglossum |
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Ophioglossidae is a special group of ferns. They are one of the four main types of ferns in the plant world. This group includes interesting plants like whisk ferns, grape ferns, adder's-tongues, and moonworts. Scientists used to call this group Psilotopsida.
What are Ophioglossidae?
Ophioglossidae are a unique kind of fern. They are different from many other ferns you might know. This group has two main families: Psilotales and Ophioglossales. For a long time, scientists weren't sure how these two families were related. But new studies using DNA information helped them understand.
These ferns have some cool features. For example, some of them, like the whisk ferns, don't have true roots. Instead, they have simple root-like structures called rhizoids. Other ferns in this group have roots without branches or tiny hairs.
How Ophioglossidae Get Food
Most plants make their own food using sunlight, a process called photosynthesis. But the young plants (called gametophytes) of Ophioglossidae are different. They often grow underground and don't do photosynthesis. Instead, they get their food from tiny fungi in the soil. This is called being heterotrophic. It means they rely on other living things for nutrients.
The older, larger fern plants (called sporophytes) do perform photosynthesis. They are the green parts you usually see above ground.
Fern Family Tree
Scientists use something called a cladogram to show how different groups of plants are related. Think of it like a family tree for plants! The cladogram below shows where Ophioglossidae fits in with other types of ferns.
| Polypodiopsida |
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In this family tree, Ophioglossidae is closely related to Equisetidae. These two groups, along with Marattiidae, are sometimes called "eusporangiate ferns." This is because of how their spore-producing structures (sporangia) develop. The largest group, Polypodiidae, are known as "leptosporangiate ferns."
The two main groups within Ophioglossidae, Ophioglossales and Psilotales, are considered sister groups. This means they are each other's closest relatives within the Ophioglossidae family.
See also
In Spanish: Ophioglossidae para niños
