Proctor, George R. 1989. Ferns of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 53: 1-389.
Blechnaceae
Species Description - Rhizome erect or ascending, slender to rather stout, usually stoloniferous, densely clothed at the apex with brown, deltate-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 adaxially, 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 deltate, widest at or near base, the apex acuminate or attenuate-subcaudate; pinnae linear-oblong or very narrowly deltate-oblong, falcate, 5-15 mm broad (widest at base), 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 costa, sometimes decurved onto the rhachis, the margin minutely denticulate-glandular.
Lectotype. Petiver, Pter. Amer., t. 3, fig. 9, which was copied from Plumier, Descr. pl. Amer., t. 29-B (=Traite foug. Amer., /. 62-B), based on a plant from Hispaniola.
Blechnum occidentale x polypodioides. A large population of this hybrid has been found at a locality where both parent species are common. Maricao, Barrio Maricao Afuera: Along Rd. 105/120 just W of Maricao pueblo, on moist shaded roadside bank, 430-440 m. Proctor 39647 (IJ, SJ, US), 16 Oct 1983.
Note: All Puerto Rican specimens seen have a glabrous rhachis (var. occidentale); in some other areas (including Cuba and Jamaica) a variant with glandular-pubemlous rhachis occurs (var. minor Hooker). Its possible occunence in Puerto Rico should be watched for. General Distribution. Widespread in tropical and subtropical areas from Rorida to Argentina. Distribution in Puerto Rico. Very widespread except in the driest areas; recorded from Adjuntas, Aibonito, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Cayey, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Las Marias, Luquillo, Maricao, Mayagñez, Naguabo, Naranjito, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rio Grande, San German, San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Yabucoa, and Yauco; also Vieques. Virgin Islands. St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola. Habitat. Shaded banks, thickets, and wooded slopes at low to high elevations (20-950 m), common, often abundant.
Puerto Rico South America| Florida United States of America North America| Argentina South America| Adjuntas Puerto Rico South America| Aibonito Puerto Rico South America| Arecibo Puerto Rico South America| Barranquitas Puerto Rico South America| Bayamón Puerto Rico South America| Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico South America| Caguas Puerto Rico South America| Cayey Puerto Rico South America| Guayanilla Puerto Rico South America| Guaynabo Puerto Rico South America| Gurabo Puerto Rico South America| Las Marías Puerto Rico South America| Luquillo Puerto Rico South America| Maricao Puerto Rico South America| Naguabo Puerto Rico South America| Naranjito Puerto Rico South America| Ponce Puerto Rico South America| Quebradillas Puerto Rico South America| Río Grande Puerto Rico South America| San Germán Puerto Rico South America| Trujillo Alto Puerto Rico South America| Utuado Puerto Rico South America| Vega Alta Puerto Rico South America| Yabucoa Puerto Rico South America| Vieques Puerto Rico South America| Virgin Islands South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America|