Phil Bendle Collection:Blechnum membranaceum

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
(unranked): Eupolypods
Family: Blechnaceae
Genus: Blechnum (Hard fern family)
Species: B. membranaceum
Binominal name: Blechnum membranaceum
Synonyms: Austroblechnum membranaceum, Struthiopteris intermedia, Struthiopteris membranacea, Lomaria oligoneuron, Lomaria pygmaea, Spicanta membranacea, Lomaria alternans, Lomaria intermedia, Lomaria membranacea, Blechnum alternans. Blechnum hamiltoni, Blechnum pygmaeum

Blechnum membranaceum (Austroblechnum membranaceum) Is a small, common, native ground fern found in lowland to lower montane forests, in damp situations throughout New Zealand.
Blechnum membranaceum has a short erect stem bearing, prostrate, dull green sterile fronds and erect fertile fronds with leaflets are attached along the leaflet base (adnate).
The sterile fronds have short, rounded leaflets with toothed margins. 
The fertile fronds larger than the sterile fronds and have widely spaced oblong leaflets. 
The longest leaflets are above the middle of the fronds. The oblong or rounded with markedly toothed margins; attached along leaflet base (adnate). The fronds are 6-25 cm long and 1-4cm wide.

Blechnum chambersii is very similar to Blechnum membranaceum and the two species will hybridise.

Blechnum membranaceum growing on a bank
[1] 

 

Fertile frond on the left, sterile frond on right
 

Fertile frond lower surface, sori with fully open sporangia

Sterile fronds.
[2]

A sterile frond.
[3]

The underside of a sterile frond. 
[4]

A young sterile frond
[5]

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

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