Family: Ophioglossaceae — adder's tongue family
Species in the family Ophioglossaceae are perennial ferns that grow on soil. A common stalk supports a two separate structures: a photosynthetic, vegetative trophophore and a reproductive sporophore. The trophophore ranges from simple to several-times divided. The sporophore bears sporongia (spore-producing structures) that are bead-like and not aggregated into sori or covered by an indusium.
This family’s genera in New England
Visit this family in the Dichotomous Key