Monographs Details:
Authority:
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
Family:
Blechnaceae
Blechnaceae
Description:
Species Description - Terrestrial fern 15-45(-75) cm tall. Rhizome erect or ascending, slender to stout, usually stoloniferous, densely clothed at the apex with brown, triangular-lanceolate to ovate scales mostly 2-4 mm long, these often with a blackish central stripe. Fronds ascending or spreading, mostly 15-75 cm long, the fertile ones tending to be slightly longer than the sterile though of similar form; stipes of fertile fronds often as long as the blades, strongly grooved along upper surface, bearing toward base few to numerous pale orange-brown, lanceolate scales, 3-5 mm long. Blades pinnate at base, pinnatisect distally, linear-oblong or lanceolate to narrowly triangular, widest at or near base, the apex acuminate or attenuate-subcaudate; pinnae linear-oblong or very narrowly triangular-oblong, scythe-shaped, 5-15 mm broad, the lowest pair usually short-stalked and deflexed, obtuse to acuminate at apex, subcordate and sometimes dilated at base; veins 1- or 2-forked, indistinct, terminating near the margins with enlarged tips. Indusium attached 0.2-1 mm from the midvein, sometimes decurved onto the rachis, the margin minutely denticulate-glandular.
Species Description - Terrestrial fern 15-45(-75) cm tall. Rhizome erect or ascending, slender to stout, usually stoloniferous, densely clothed at the apex with brown, triangular-lanceolate to ovate scales mostly 2-4 mm long, these often with a blackish central stripe. Fronds ascending or spreading, mostly 15-75 cm long, the fertile ones tending to be slightly longer than the sterile though of similar form; stipes of fertile fronds often as long as the blades, strongly grooved along upper surface, bearing toward base few to numerous pale orange-brown, lanceolate scales, 3-5 mm long. Blades pinnate at base, pinnatisect distally, linear-oblong or lanceolate to narrowly triangular, widest at or near base, the apex acuminate or attenuate-subcaudate; pinnae linear-oblong or very narrowly triangular-oblong, scythe-shaped, 5-15 mm broad, the lowest pair usually short-stalked and deflexed, obtuse to acuminate at apex, subcordate and sometimes dilated at base; veins 1- or 2-forked, indistinct, terminating near the margins with enlarged tips. Indusium attached 0.2-1 mm from the midvein, sometimes decurved onto the rachis, the margin minutely denticulate-glandular.
Distribution:
Argentina South America| Florida United States of America North America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|
Argentina South America| Florida United States of America North America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|