Blechnum schiedeanum (Schltdl. ex C.Presl) Hieron.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

  • Family

    Blechnaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Blechnum schiedeanum (Schltdl. ex C.Presl) Hieron.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome large, woody, erect; rhizome scales 20-30 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, light brown, ovate, lanceolate, entire; fronds dimorphic, clumped; stipe 25-80 cm long, 1/3-½ the frond length, stramineous, with scattered scales resembling rhizome scales; sterile blade 30-100 cm long, 19-35 cm wide, once-pinnate, basal pinnae not reduced, terminal pinna conform; rachis stramineous, with sparse to rare, narrow, twisted, hairlike scales, 5-7 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, aerophores or nectaries at pinna base; pinnae free, straight to somewhat falcate, base rounded to cuneate, apex long-acuminate to caudate, sterile pinnae glabrous adaxially, abaxially on midvein only with rare to scattered, pale scales (1-1.5 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide) and rare, twisted, hairlike scales, fertile pinnae abaxially with rare 2-3 mm scales on midvein only; fertile pinnae (8.5-18 cm long, 2-3 mm wide) equal to sterile (11-18 cm long, 18-28 mm wide); enlarged vein endings visible adaxially; margins entire (serrate at tips), often undulate and recurved; indusia erose, 1 mm wide.

  • Discussion

    Lomaria schiedeana Schlechtendal ex Presl, Tent, pte-rid. 143. 1836. Lomaria spectabilis Liebmann, Mexic. bregn. 235 (seors. 83). 1849, nom. superfl. Type. Mexico. Veracruz: Jalapa, Schiede [781] (isotypes B, HAL, photo K; frag. NY!). Lomaria acrodonta Fée, Mém. foug. 8: 70. 1857. Type. Mexico. [Veracruz:] “À Huatusco et Totutla,” Schaffner 102 (P?). Blechnum schiedeanum and B. falciforme are often difficult to separate. The main distinguishing characters are the presence in B. falciforme of cartilaginous serrations along the whole pinna margin, dense, 2-3 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, scales abaxially on the midveins of the sterile and fertile pinnae, and appressed, twisted, hairlike scales (4-5 mm long) on veins and lamina. See B. varians for comparison.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial at middle elevations; Cuicatlán, Ixtlán, Juquila, Mixe, Pochutla, Villa Alta; 900-1600 m. Mexico (Ver, Pue, Oax, Chis); Guat to CR.

    Mexico North America| Costa Rica South America| Guatemala Central America|