Blechnidium melanopus (Hook.) T.Moore, Brit. Ferns

Gasper, André Luís De, Dittrich, Viníciusantonio De Oliveira, Smith, Alan R. & Salino, Alexandre, 2016, A classification for Blechnaceae (Polypodiales: Polypodiopsida): New genera, resurrected names, and combinations, Phytotaxa 275 (3), pp. 191-227 : 205

1. Blechnidium melanopus (Hook.) T.Moore, Brit. Ferns 2: 210. 1860. — Blechnum melanopus Hook., Sp. Fil. 3: 64, pl. 161. 1859.

Blechnopsis C.Presl, Abh. Königl. Böhm. Ges. Wiss. , ser. 5, 6: 475. 1851. — Type: Blechnopsis orientalis (L.) C.Presl, Abh. Königl. Böhm. Ges. Wiss., ser. 5, 6: 477. 1851. Figs. 3C , 5I .

Plants terrestrial; rhizomes erect to suberect, non-stoloniferous, stout, sometimes forming caudices, densely clothed with concolorous or weakly bicolorous brown, linear, entire scales; fronds monomorphic; stipes stout, dark reddish or purple-brown, bearing scales at bases similar to those of rhizomes, sometimes with very fine pale hairs distally; blades concolorous, ovate to deltate, pinnate, proximally abruptly reduced with many pairs (10+) of auriculate pinnae, apices subconform; rachises glabrous or with sparse irregular hairs and slender reddish brown scales; buds absent; aerophores absent; pinnae sessile or subpetiolulate, linear to narrowly elliptic, entire, sometimes revolute at margins, often with a basiscopic lobe; veins free, 1-furcate, each ending in a small hydathode adaxially; sori linear, indusiate, indusia entire at maturity, reflexed and not covering sporangia; x = 32, 33, 34.

Species number, comments, and distribution:— Two species, in Asia, Malesia, Japan, Australia, and Pacific islands. Blechnopsis is distinguished by the long stipes, with many auriculate pinnae (more than 10 pairs), and usually with basiscopic pinna lobes adnate. It is closely related to Sadleria and Cleistoblechnum (Gasper et al. in press).

Figures

FIGURE 3. General appearance of the genera of Blechnaceae subfamily Blechnoideae (A-D). A. Austroblechnum penna-marina (FURB06706); B. Blechnidium melanopus (P02439094); C. Blechnopsis orientalis (P01406555); D. Blechnum occidentale (FURB06701); E. Brainea insignis (P01482127); F. Cleistoblechnum eburneum (P00627565); G. Cranfillia fluviatilis (P01606472); H. Diploblechnum fraseri (P01557366); I. Doodia aspera (P01618184). Vouchers are indicated by herbarium barcodes.

FIGURE 5. Habitat of Blechnaceae genera. A. Anchistea virginica; B. Lorinseria areolata; C. Woodwardia unigemmata; D. Salpichalena volubilis; E. Stenochlaena milnei; F. Telmatoblechnum serrulatum; G. Austroblechnum penna-marina; H. Blechnidium melanopus; I. Blechnopsis orientalis. Photos from: A. The PLANTS Database, USDA, NRCS. 2016; B. James Van Kley; C. Ralf Knapp; D. Luis Adriano Funez; E. Julie F. Barcelona; F. Luis Adriano Funez; G. Vinícius A.O. Dittrich; H. Ralf Knap; I. Ralf Knap. Reproduced with permission from the authors.