serpent's-tongue

A gardener carefully transplants a serpent's-tongue fern into a shaded flowerbed.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of fern: "serpent's-tongue" is a common name for certain ferns in the genus Ophioglossum, characterized by a single, unbranched leaf that resembles a snake's tongue. These plants are also known as adder's-tongue ferns.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In the damp woodland, we found a cluster of serpent's-tongue ferns. (A type of fern with a tongue-like leaf.)
  • The botanist identified the plant as a serpent's-tongue due to its distinctive spore spike. (A fern in the genus Ophioglossum.)

Advanced Usage

• "serpent's-tongue" as a descriptive term: In older botanical texts, "serpent's-tongue" may be used generically for any plant with a narrow, tongue-shaped leaf, though it most commonly refers to species.
  • The herbalist collected serpent's-tongue for its reputed medicinal properties. (The fern was gathered for traditional remedies.)

Variants and Related Words

• Adder's-tongue (n): an alternative common name for the same group of ferns, derived from the same visual resemblance.

  • Adder's-tongue ferns are often found in grassy meadows. (Another name for serpent's-tongue ferns.)

• Ophioglossum (n): the scientific genus name for serpent's-tongue ferns.

  • Ophioglossum vulgatum is the most widespread species of serpent's-tongue. (The Latin name for the common adder's-tongue fern.)

Synonyms

• Adder's-tongue fern: a direct synonym for "serpent's-tongue" in botanical contexts.
• Snake's-tongue fern: a less common but literal synonym.

Related Idioms

Note: "serpent's-tongue" is not used in common English idioms or phrasal verbs.