Ophioglossum caroticaule J. E. Burrows

caroticaule: rhizome resembling a carrot

Rhizome short, ellipsoid to spindle-shaped, no persistent leaf bases; roots descending, sometimes becoming horizontal. Leaves up to 2 leaves but mostly 1, held at c.75° from the horizontal. Petiole up to 3.5 cm long, subterranean for about half of its length. Sterile lamina 14-39 × 2.5-5 mm, very narrowly elliptic in outline, apex pointed, base gradually diminishing in breadth, fertile lamina often concave above; fertile segment 3-6 cm long, inserted at or just above the base of the lamina. Sporangia 6-19 pairs.

Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe