Blechnum stoloniferum (Mett.) C.Chr.

  • 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 stoloniferum (Mett.) C.Chr.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizomes horizontal, compact and stoloniferous; rhizome scales 3–4 x 0.8–1 mm, light brown, deltate, entire; fronds strongly dimorphic, clumped, 10–35 cm long, fertile fronds taller than sterile; stipes of sterile fronds 1–6(–12) cm x 1 mm, 1/10–2/5 the frond length, atropurpureous, glabrous or the bases sparsely scaly, smooth to papillate; sterile blades pinnatifid to pinnatisect, 8–22 x (1–)2–3.5(–5) cm, chartaceous, narrowly elliptic, bases gradually reduced to distant semicircular lobes, apices gradually tapered and pinnatifid; rachises smooth or papillate, lacking scales, lacking aerophores at pinna bases; sterile pinnae 20–27 pairs, broadly adnate, oblong, mostly 1–2(–3) x 0.6–0.8 cm, somewhat falcate, apices rounded or infrequently acute, margins entire or faintly crenulate to undulate, often recurved, glabrous on both sides; veins simple to 1-forked, vein endings enlarged and readily visible on adaxial surfaces; fertile pinnae 8–18 x 0.8–2 mm; indusia 0.6–0.8 mm, subentire to erose or minutely ciliate.

  • Discussion

    Lomaria stolonifera Mett. ex E. Fourn., Mexic. Pl. 1: 113. 1872. Struthiopteris stolonifera (Mett. ex E. Fourn.) Broadh., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 39: 277. 1912. Types. Mexico. Veracruz: Orizaba, Mu¨ller 61.1491, Meissner Herbarium (isotypes B!, K!, NY!).

    Lomaria ghiesbreghtii Baker in Hooker & Baker, Syn. Fil., ed. 2, 481. 1874. Blechnum ghiesbreghtii (Baker) C. Chr., Index Filic. 154. 1905. Type. Mexico. Chiapas: Ghiesbreght 207 (K!; isotypes BM!, K!, NY!, PH!, NY!).

    The small frond size, stoloniferous nature, and occurrence at higher elevations distinguish B. stoloniferum from the other members of sect. Lomaria in Mexico (B. divergens, B. lehmannii, and B. wardiae).

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial in montane cloud forests, evergreen cloud forests, pine-oak forests; 1600–3250 m. Mexico; Guat, Hond, Salv, CR.

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