The Hand fern (Cheiroglossa palmata), also known as the Dwarf Staghorn, is a terrestrial, fern-like plant. The genus Cheiroglossa is in the family Ophioglossaceae of the order Ophioglossales, a small group of non-flowering vascular plants. The family includes another genus, Ophioglossum (the Adders-tongues). The Hand fern is an epiphyte, growing in old leaf bases of the Cabbage palmetto (Sabal palm). Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Divisions Green algae land plants (embryophytes) non-vascular embryophytes Hepatophyta - liverworts Anthocerophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses vascular plants (tracheophytes) seedless vascular plants Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongue ferns seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering... Families and Genera Family Ophioglossaceae Ophioglossum Cheiroglossa Family Botrychiaceae Botrychium Botrypus Sceptridium Family Helminthostachiaceae Helminthostachys zeylanica The Ophioglossophyta are a small group of plants. ... Species Ophioglossum azoricum Ophioglossum engelmanii Ophioglossum lusitanicum Ophioglossum pycnosticum Ophioglossum vulgatum Adders-tongues are plants of the genus Ophioglossum, which means snake-tongue. Ophioglossum is in the family Ophioglossaceae, in the order Ophioglossales, a small group of vascular plants. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... Classes Marattiopsida Osmundopsida Gleicheniopsida Pteridopsida A fern, or pteridophyte, is any one of a group of some twenty thousand species of plants classified in the Division Pteridophyta, formerly known as Filicophyta. ... Species Ophioglossum azoricum Ophioglossum engelmanii Ophioglossum lusitanicum Ophioglossum pycnosticum Ophioglossum vulgatum Adders-tongues are plants of the genus Ophioglossum, which means snake-tongue. Ophioglossum is in the family Ophioglossaceae, in the order Ophioglossales, a small group of vascular plants. ... An example of an epiphyte assemblage of orchids and bromeliads in a garden setting The term epiphyte refers to any plant that grows upon or attached to another living plant. ... In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... Binomial name Sabal palmetto (Walt. ...

The leaves are palmately-lobed and roughly shaped like a hand. They grow up tp 30 cm wide and the margins are entire (no serration). The fertile fronds are a set of small tapering sporophores that bear the spores. There are several to many at the base of each leaf blade. On the sporophores are the sporangial clusters with sporangia in two rows, all embedded in compact, linear spikes. The main areoles large, usually more than 30 mm. The pale yellowish-brown roots are dichotomous. The gametophytes are brown to white, cylindric, and repeatedly branched. In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... A fern with simple (lobed or pinnatifid) blades, the dissection of each blade not quite reaching to the rachis. ... The term spore has several different meanings in biology. ... A sporangium (pl. ... A gametophyte is the haploid structure or phase of life of a sexually reproducing plant. ...

This plant is found worldwide, but in the United States, it is restricted to the far southeast, primarily Florida. It has become rare in Florida due to overcollecting and extensive drainage of natural wetlands from development and water diversion projects. It is reported to not survive cultivation. State nickname: Sunshine State, Everglade State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ...

This plant is also called the "Hand tongue".

References

• Cheiroglossa palmata (http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Cheiroglossa+palmata)
• Photos and info on the Hand fern (http://fig.cox.miami.edu/~scofield/sofl_plants/fern_ophioglossum_palmatum.html)