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Blechnum resources
Distribution
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Taxonomy
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All Ferns
  Blechnaceae
   Blechnum
     penna-marina
     spicant

 Other Genera
    Adiantum  Arachniodes
    Aspidotis  Asplenium
    Astrolepis  Athyrium
    Cheilanthes  Cryptogramma
    Cyrtomium  Cystopteris
    Dennstaedtia  Deparia
    Diplazium  Dryopteris
    Gymnocarpium  Lygodium
    Matteuccia  Onoclea
    Oreopteris  Osmunda
    Pellaea  Phegopteris
    Pleopeltis  Polypodium
    Polystichum  Pteridium
    Pteris  Pyrrosia
    Thelypteris  Woodsia
    Woodwardia
 
Blechnum Linnaeus (Blechnaceae) Earlier placement: Polypodiaceae

Deer fern

Etymology Greek: Blechnum is derived from the word blechnon, which is an ancient Greek word for ferns in general.
Description Rhizome: erect to creeping, scales brown or black.
Frond: evergreen, dimorphic, fertile leaves more erect and longer than sterile leaves.
vascular bundles: more than 2 vascular bundles arranged in arc.
Blade: pinnatifid to 1-pinnate, ovate, leathery, young fronds are often red.
veins sterile:free, often forked; fertile: veins of fertile leaves united to form sorus-bearing secondary vein parallel to costa or costule.
Sori: elongate, continuous, on both sides of the costae, indusium: flap-like, opening towards the costa.
Distinctive Characteristics Emerging fronds in the genus are usually red or reddish, loosing the color when fully expanded.
Blechnum
Blechnum spicant. a) free venation in sterile pinna; b) netted venation of fertile pinna.  Illustration from Scandinavian Ferns by Benjamin Ĝllgaard and Kirsten Tind, Rhodos, 1993.
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