Monographs Details:
Authority:
Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.
Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.
Family:
Blechnaceae
Blechnaceae
Description:
Species Description - Rhizome erect, usually trunklike, to 40 cm tall; rhizome scales golden brown, concolorous, lanceolate, 7-15 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, with ciliate margin; fronds dimorphic, clumped; stipe 20-30 cm long, dark red, grooved, papillate, with matted, twisted, appressed hairs; sterile blade 50-70 cm long, (16-)24-30 cm wide, pinnatifid, abruptly reduced at base to vestigial bumps, apex tapering gradually, basal pinnae contiguous to slightly distant; rachis reddish, grooved; pinnae adnate, falcate, apex acute, sterile pinnae glabrous adaxially, abaxially with 1-2 mm long twisted hairs on midrib and veins; fertile pinnae (8.5-15 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide) shorter than or equal to the sterile pinnae (10-14 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide), margin entire; indusia 1 mm wide, entire.
Species Description - Rhizome erect, usually trunklike, to 40 cm tall; rhizome scales golden brown, concolorous, lanceolate, 7-15 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, with ciliate margin; fronds dimorphic, clumped; stipe 20-30 cm long, dark red, grooved, papillate, with matted, twisted, appressed hairs; sterile blade 50-70 cm long, (16-)24-30 cm wide, pinnatifid, abruptly reduced at base to vestigial bumps, apex tapering gradually, basal pinnae contiguous to slightly distant; rachis reddish, grooved; pinnae adnate, falcate, apex acute, sterile pinnae glabrous adaxially, abaxially with 1-2 mm long twisted hairs on midrib and veins; fertile pinnae (8.5-15 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide) shorter than or equal to the sterile pinnae (10-14 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide), margin entire; indusia 1 mm wide, entire.
Discussion:
Lomaria divergens Kunze, Linnaea 9: 57. 1834. Type. Peru. Pampayaco, Poeppig [Diar. 1141] (LZ, destroyed). Lomaria exaltata Fée, Mém. foug. 11: 10, t. 3. 1866. Struthiopteris exaltata (Fée) Broadhurst, Bull. Tor-rey Bot. Club 39: 264. 1912. Type. Guadeloupe. 1861, L’Herminier s.n. (P; isotypes P-3 sheets, NY!). This distinct taxon has been confused with B. l'herminieri due to the presence of B. wardiae in Mexico. Blechnum divergens has a wide blade and long pinnae, ciliate rhizome scales, matted hairs on the stipe and pinna midribs, basal pinnae that reduce abruptly to mere, vestigial pinnae and a lower elevational range than the other taxa. Blechnum l'herminieri has smaller pinnae, which taper gradually to semicircular lobes, entire scales that are smaller and a narrower blade. See B. wardiae for comparison with that species. Blechnum jamaicense (Broadhurst) Christensen of the Greater Antilles has more gradually tapering pinnae, generally larger fronds, and distant median and basal pinnae.
Lomaria divergens Kunze, Linnaea 9: 57. 1834. Type. Peru. Pampayaco, Poeppig [Diar. 1141] (LZ, destroyed). Lomaria exaltata Fée, Mém. foug. 11: 10, t. 3. 1866. Struthiopteris exaltata (Fée) Broadhurst, Bull. Tor-rey Bot. Club 39: 264. 1912. Type. Guadeloupe. 1861, L’Herminier s.n. (P; isotypes P-3 sheets, NY!). This distinct taxon has been confused with B. l'herminieri due to the presence of B. wardiae in Mexico. Blechnum divergens has a wide blade and long pinnae, ciliate rhizome scales, matted hairs on the stipe and pinna midribs, basal pinnae that reduce abruptly to mere, vestigial pinnae and a lower elevational range than the other taxa. Blechnum l'herminieri has smaller pinnae, which taper gradually to semicircular lobes, entire scales that are smaller and a narrower blade. See B. wardiae for comparison with that species. Blechnum jamaicense (Broadhurst) Christensen of the Greater Antilles has more gradually tapering pinnae, generally larger fronds, and distant median and basal pinnae.
Distribution:
Mexico North America| South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Guatemala Central America|
Mexico North America| South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Guatemala Central America|