Blechnum appendiculatum Willd.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Blechnaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Blechnum appendiculatum Willd.

  • Description

    Species Description - Similar to Blechnum occidentale except: stipes (3.5–)5–25 cm long, 1/3–1/2 the frond length; blades 7–23 x 3.5–8(–11) cm; rachises moderately to densely hairy with sticky, septate hairs 0.2– 0.8 mm long; largest pinnae (1–)2–4(–8) cm x (4–)6–8 mm, abaxially glabrous or with hairs at pinna bases; 2n=124 (Fla, Oax, Chis, Jam).

  • Discussion

    Type. Venezuela. Caracas, Bredemeyer s.n. (B-Willd. 20038- photo GH; microfiche UC!).

    Blechnum glandulosum Kaulf. ex Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 462. 1822. Type. Described from cultivated material, Brazil, Otto s.n. (B!).

    Blechnum meridionale C. Presl in J. Presl & C. Presl, Delic. Prag. 1: 186. 1822. Blechnum occidentale L. var. ß intermedium E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 112. 1872. Type. Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, Pohl s.n. (PR, frag. NY!).

    Blechnum occidentale L. var. minor Hook., Sp. Fil. 3: 51. 1860. Lectotype (chosen by Proctor, 1985: 289). Mexico. Liebmann s.n. (K!; isolectotype GH) [probably Veracruz: Mirador, labelled as B. glandulosum by Liebmann at C].

    Blechnum occidentale L. var. pubirhachis Rosenst., Hedwigia 46: 94. 1906. Type. Brazil. Santa Catarina: Blumenau, Haerchen 18.1 (S; isotype NY!).

    The non-adnate proximal pinnae, which are only slightly reduced, pinnatifid apices, and moderately to densely hairy rachises distinguish this species in the B. occidentale complex. See discussion under B. gracile, B. occidentale, and B. polypodioides for further differences. Several putative hybrids appear to involve B. appendiculatum. Blechnum appendiculatum x gracile: Chis (Breedlove 22456, DS, NY); Oax (Hallberg 1292, NY). In Mexico, this hybrid occurs at low elevations (300–700 m). Hybrids between B. appendiculatum and B. gracile have fertile fronds much narrower than the sterile, subconform blade apices, 8–10 pinna pairs, and malformed spores; they are known from Mexico, Central America (e.g., Guatemala: Bernoulli 456, NY), and South America, and occur at generally lower elevations than B. appendiculatum. Mickel and Beitel (1988) and Mickel (1992) cited several collections as representing the hybrid Blechnum appendiculatum x polypodioides: Jal (Mexia 1336, NY); Gro (Langlasse´ 671, US); Mor (Rose & Painter 7270, NY); and Ver (Purpus 1969, NY). At least some of these now seem to us like merely small specimens of B. appendiculatum, e.g., Mexia 1336 and Rose & Painter 7270. The Mexia collection in various herbaria has mostly well formed spores. Another collection that may indeed be this hybrid is Breedlove 44609(CAS), from Nayarit, 2100 m. It has 2–3 pairs of reduced proximal pinnae and non-sulcate costae adaxially, like B. polypodioides, but the pinnae are closely placed (even overlapping) and rounded at apices, more like B. appendiculatum; there is also a high percentage of malformed spores, 50%. Chromosome counts for B. appendiculatum indicate that it, like B. occidentale, is tetraploid. Both Mexican vouchers reported by Smith and Mickel (1977) as B. occidentale, from Chiapas and Oaxaca, we now identify as B. appendiculatum. See under B. occidentale for discussion of putative hybrids with that species.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial along roadsides and stream banks, in montane rain forests, pine-oak forests; (400–)700–2550 m. USA (Fla, Tex); Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Trin, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, Parag, Arg.

    Mexico North America| Argentina South America| Paraguay South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America|