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1. Blechnum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1077. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 485, 1754.
Deer ferns [Greek blechnon, an ancient name for ferns in general]
Clifton E. Nauman
Plants terrestrial or rarely on rock. Stems creeping to ascending or erect, slender to stout, sometimes climbing [rarely subarborescent]; scales brown or black. Leaves monomorphic or variously dimorphic, cespitose to scattered. Blades pinnatifid to 1-pinnate, rarely simple or 2-pinnate. Rachis and costae glabrous, scaly, or hairy abaxially. Veins free, often forked. Sori borne on vascular commissures parallel to costae, 1 per side, normally uninterrupted, linear, continuous along length of costa. Spores with perine smooth to variously winged or rugose. x = 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 36.
Species ca. 220 (3 in the flora): mostly tropical, especially Southern Hemisphere.
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| 1 |
Leaves strongly dimorphic, fertile leaves notably more erect, longer, and with narrower pinnae than sterile leaves; sterile blades tapering at base. |
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1 Blechnum spicant |
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Leaves ± monomorphic, fertile leaves only slightly longer and somewhat contracted relative to sterile leaves; sterile blades ± truncate at base. |
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(2) |
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| 2 (1) |
Blades 1-pinnate proximally and pinnatifid distally or pinnatifid nearly throughout, usually less than 50 cm; pinna margins ± entire. |
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2a var. minor |
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Blades 1-pinnate throughout, usually more than 50 cm; pinna margins ± evenly serrulate. |
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3 Blechnum serrulatum |
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Lower Taxa
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| Trees and shrubs of the Andes of Ecuador |
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| Blechnum sp |
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