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Blechnum brasiliense
Desv.
Brazilian Tree Fern
Blechnaceae
Blechnum brasiliense is a species of fern in the family Blechnaceae. It is native to South America with disjunct populations in Central America, and is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.
Description
Blechnum brasiliense is a large terrestrial fern that has a very stout rhizome, often forming a caudex that is up to 70 cm tall. The rhizomes and stipes are densely covered with black, glossy, linear, curved scales about 2.5 cm long. Fronds are monomorphic (not differentiated in morphology between sterile and fertile fronds). They are 36 to 177 cm long, on a stipe that is up to 18.5 cm long. The blade is pinnate or pinnatifid (pinnately lobed nearly or all the way to the midrib), oblanceolate in outline, with 31 to 56 pairs of pinnae. The pinnae are 5.7 to 24 cm long and 0.7 to 1.6 cm long, joined to the midrib at the base, linear or ovate to triangular for the basal ones, leathery in texture, margins finely serrate, and pointed tips. Veins are simple, free (not merging back) (Dittrich et al. 2017).
Blechnum brasiliense is sometimes as the only species in its own genus, Neoblechnum. Among the family, this is distinguished from other species by its monomorphic, pinnatifid or pinnate leaves with free veins and serrulate margins, erect rhizomes that do not climb, and the presence of indusia (Gasper et al. 2016).
Blechnum brasiliense is sometimes as the only species in its own genus, Neoblechnum. Among the family, this is distinguished from other species by its monomorphic, pinnatifid or pinnate leaves with free veins and serrulate margins, erect rhizomes that do not climb, and the presence of indusia (Gasper et al. 2016).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Blechnum brasiliense is used as a houseplant. It generally prefers filtered or indirect light, high humidity, and moist-but well-drained loamy soils (RHS). Some cultivars are available, such as ‘Volcano’.
Distribution
Blechnum brasiliense is a common species, at least in Brazil, where it grows in degraded areas such as along roads and trails, river banks, forest clearings, and other disturbed sites in a variety of forest habitats. It appears to be less common in shaded areas (Dittrich et al. 2017).
The range of Blechnum brasiliense covers the eastern and southern halves of Brazil, as well as Uruguay, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana. Disjunct populations are also found in central Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. These Central American populations may be a long-distance dispersal event, caused by something like a hurricane (Brewer et al. 2020).
The range of Blechnum brasiliense covers the eastern and southern halves of Brazil, as well as Uruguay, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana. Disjunct populations are also found in central Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. These Central American populations may be a long-distance dispersal event, caused by something like a hurricane (Brewer et al. 2020).
Status
References
Brewer, S. W., Cornejo-Tenorio, G., and Ibarra-Manríquez, G. 2020. The curious distribution of the dwarf Brazilian Tree Fern, Neoblechnum brasiliense (Blechnaceae): New Country Records and a significant range extension. Brittonia 72: 241–247.
Dittrich, V. A. D. O., Salino, A., Monteiro, R., and Gasper, A. L. 2017. The family Blechnaceae (Polypodiopsida) in Brazil: Key to the genera and taxonomic treatment of Austroblechnum, Cranfillia, lomaridium, Neoblechnum and Telmatoblechnum for southern and southeastern Brazil. Phytotaxa, 303: 1.
Gasper, A. L., Dittrich, V. A., Smith, A. R., and Salino, A. 2016. A classification for Blechnaceae (Polypodiales: Polypodiopsida): New genera, resurrected names, and combinations. Phytotaxa, 275: 191.
RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Blechnum brasiliense. RHS Gardening. [accessed 2022 Jul 15]. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/21330/i-blechnum-brasiliense-i/details
Dittrich, V. A. D. O., Salino, A., Monteiro, R., and Gasper, A. L. 2017. The family Blechnaceae (Polypodiopsida) in Brazil: Key to the genera and taxonomic treatment of Austroblechnum, Cranfillia, lomaridium, Neoblechnum and Telmatoblechnum for southern and southeastern Brazil. Phytotaxa, 303: 1.
Gasper, A. L., Dittrich, V. A., Smith, A. R., and Salino, A. 2016. A classification for Blechnaceae (Polypodiales: Polypodiopsida): New genera, resurrected names, and combinations. Phytotaxa, 275: 191.
RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Blechnum brasiliense. RHS Gardening. [accessed 2022 Jul 15]. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/21330/i-blechnum-brasiliense-i/details
Description
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