Blechnum - Blechnaceae

Blechnum punctulatum Sw. var. intermedium Sim.

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Lomaria punctulata (Sw.) Kunze var. intermedia Sim

Common name

Description

Rhizome creeping to suberect, up to 4 cm in diameter; rhizome scales dark brown, linear, up to 2 cm long, margins pale, entire. Fronds dimorphic, tufted. Stipe up to 10 cm long, glabrous but with scales towards the base. Sterile lamina up to 110 cm × 15 cm, linear-elliptic in outline, pinnate with basal pinnae gradually decrescent; pinnae narrowly lanceolate, glabrous, margins entire, base with truncate lobes overlapping the rhachis, apex tapering to a point, sometimes falcate. Fertile lamina not obviously reduced; pinnae 5-11 mm wide, narrowly lanceolate. Sori partly longutudinal, c. 3mm, set in saw-tooth lines on either side to the costa, together with smaller detached sori towards the margins.

Notes

This variety is smaller with broader fronds and pinnae, margins are slightly wavy or crenulate, sori are set in semicontinuously saw-tooth lines.

Derivation

intermedium: reference to the intermediate form of its sori.

Habitat

Wet forest, in drier forests/scrub or their margins, open grasslands.

Distribution worldwide

Endemic to South Africa.

Distribution in Africa

South Africa.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature. Page 740. (Includes a picture).
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Page 468. (Includes a picture).
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Page 104.

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