Blechnum microphyllum 0
Author: (J.G. Goldmann (1810-1848)) Conrad Vernon Morton (1905-1972)Family: Aspleniaceae Subfamily: Blechnoideae
Genus: Blechnum
Synonym(s): Austroblechnum microphyllum
English name: Small-leaved hardfern
Zone: Chile
Description
The Austroblechnum microphyllum fern is native to Chile and Argentina. In our country it grows naturally mainly in the Andes Mountains from the Metropolitan Region to the Province of Llanquihue in the Los Lagos Region, in a wide gradient of light and humidity conditions, being able to grow under high Andean forests of Lenga or Araucaria, among others, or between rocks in sectors on the limit or above the limit of the altitudinal growth of the forests in the high mountain range.
Blechnum microphyllum Observed in Chile by Eitel Carlos Thielemann (license)
Botanical Description
The fern Austroblechnum microphyllum is a perennial herb. It has a creeping rhizome, that develops underground and measures more or less than 2 to 2.5mm in diameter, being very branched and is covered with scales.
The leaves or fronds of Austroblechnum microphyllum are pinnately divided and are dimorphic, which means that they have vegetative or sterile leaves or fronds that are different from the fertile fronds or have sori that they release spores. The petioles of the leaves are arranged in a clumping fashion and are 1-4cm long, persistent for long time. The sterile or soriless frond blade is approximately 5 to 10cm across, long, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, slightly attenuated towards the apex or tip of the leaf, which it appears abruptly narrow towards its base. The sections or pinnae are hairless or scaleless (they are glabrous), somewhat fleshy, separated in the region basal and central and more or less imbricated (a little mounted on each other) towards the tip or apex, they are sessile, oblong in shape, with a sharp tip or apex, with the edge or margin of irregularly crenate to denticulate shape. The rachis or portion of the stem with the divisions or pinnae of the leaf presents some linear scales. The frond or fertile leaf is about one third longer than the sterile leaf. The divisions or pinnae develop separated and inclined towards the tip or apex. The sori that develop the spores are organized in structures called coenosori, which are wide and continuous. The membrane covering the sori, or indusium, is continuous and has lacerated edges.
The leaves or fronds of Austroblechnum microphyllum are pinnately divided and are dimorphic, which means that they have vegetative or sterile leaves or fronds that are different from the fertile fronds or have sori that they release spores. The petioles of the leaves are arranged in a clumping fashion and are 1-4cm long, persistent for long time. The sterile or soriless frond blade is approximately 5 to 10cm across, long, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, slightly attenuated towards the apex or tip of the leaf, which it appears abruptly narrow towards its base. The sections or pinnae are hairless or scaleless (they are glabrous), somewhat fleshy, separated in the region basal and central and more or less imbricated (a little mounted on each other) towards the tip or apex, they are sessile, oblong in shape, with a sharp tip or apex, with the edge or margin of irregularly crenate to denticulate shape. The rachis or portion of the stem with the divisions or pinnae of the leaf presents some linear scales. The frond or fertile leaf is about one third longer than the sterile leaf. The divisions or pinnae develop separated and inclined towards the tip or apex. The sori that develop the spores are organized in structures called coenosori, which are wide and continuous. The membrane covering the sori, or indusium, is continuous and has lacerated edges.
References
- Chile Bosque. www.chilebosque.cl Vol. Blechnum microphyllum. Blechnum microphyllum
- Helechos Nativos del Centro y Sur de Chile. Guía de Campo., Rodríguez, Roberto and Alarcón, Diego and Espejo Cardemil, Jaime. 2009. DOI
- Helechos Nativos del Centro y Sur de Chile. Guía de Campo., Rodríguez, Roberto and Alarcón, Diego and Espejo Cardemil, Jaime. 2009. DOI
References for the genus
- An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain. PhytoKeys 2022 Vol. 191 pag. 1-158. Address
- Encyclopedia of garden ferns, Sue Olsen. 2007 Vol. P pag. 266-277. ISBN
- Especies arborescentes del gßero Blechnum (Blechnaceae: Pteridophyta), Rolleri, Cristina H and Prada, Carmen and Gabriel y Galá, JosßMarì and Passarelli, Lilian M. Revista de Biologì Tropical 2013 Vol. 61(1) pag. 377-408. Address
- Fieldiana. Botany. Vol. New serie, 32 pag. 54-68. Address
- Flora of Southern Africa, L.E. Codd, B. De Winter And H.B. Rycroft. Address
- Révision synoptique du genre Blechnum L.(Blechnaceae) à Madagascar, Rakotondrainibe, France and Jouy, Alain and Meyer, Sylvie and Reeb, Catherine. Adansonia 2013 Vol. 35(2) pag. 151-193. Address
- Spore morphology and ornamentation in the genus Blechnum (Blechnaceae), Passarelli, Lilian M and Gabriel y Galá, Jose Maria and Prada, Carmen and Rolleri, Cristina H. Grana 2010 Vol. 49(4) pag. 243-262. Address
- Encyclopedia of garden ferns, Sue Olsen. 2007 Vol. P pag. 266-277. ISBN
- Especies arborescentes del gßero Blechnum (Blechnaceae: Pteridophyta), Rolleri, Cristina H and Prada, Carmen and Gabriel y Galá, JosßMarì and Passarelli, Lilian M. Revista de Biologì Tropical 2013 Vol. 61(1) pag. 377-408. Address
- Fieldiana. Botany. Vol. New serie, 32 pag. 54-68. Address
- Flora of Southern Africa, L.E. Codd, B. De Winter And H.B. Rycroft. Address
- Révision synoptique du genre Blechnum L.(Blechnaceae) à Madagascar, Rakotondrainibe, France and Jouy, Alain and Meyer, Sylvie and Reeb, Catherine. Adansonia 2013 Vol. 35(2) pag. 151-193. Address
- Spore morphology and ornamentation in the genus Blechnum (Blechnaceae), Passarelli, Lilian M and Gabriel y Galá, Jose Maria and Prada, Carmen and Rolleri, Cristina H. Grana 2010 Vol. 49(4) pag. 243-262. Address
General specifications
Biological type: fern
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Reproduction mode: cryptogams plant that reproduce via spores
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 0,6ft x 0,6ft
Plant with a spacing of: 0,5ft
Sun exposure: shadow (Sun hours: <3h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: fast
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 40%Compost+20%Peet+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a day pH 5.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Ferns; container, C1 container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 800-1200mm
Gravelly soil: much
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Reproduction mode: cryptogams plant that reproduce via spores
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 0,6ft x 0,6ft
Plant with a spacing of: 0,5ft
Sun exposure: shadow (Sun hours: <3h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: fast
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 40%Compost+20%Peet+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a day pH 5.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Ferns; container, C1 container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 800-1200mm
Gravelly soil: much
Sowing instructions
SPRING Sow in an airtight container. The tray and the sterilized substrate. No direct sunlight on the substrate. The seeds germinate in 11-11 weeks.
The average seed weight is 100000,0 per gram (0,00001g).
Germination references for the genus
- The propagation of New Zealand native plants, Lawrie Metcalf. 2007. ISBN
The average seed weight is 100000,0 per gram (0,00001g).
Germination references for the genus
- The propagation of New Zealand native plants, Lawrie Metcalf. 2007. ISBN
Experiences in the garden
23-01-18A Obtaining seeds from seed provider British Pteridological Society collected in '....'. (Cultivated from unknown origin)
13-01-21B Obtaining seeds from seed provider British Pteridological Society collected in '....'. (Cultivated from unknown origin)
17-03-21 Sown seeds in a tray and germinated at 04-06-21, result: 7 units in Serre1.
Protocol: Spring Surface Fern sowing mix 59-68°F day 68°F night Ferns
. . . 2021B Production of 7 plants in our nursery (Cultivated from unknown origin)
21-09-23 6x Plants eaten by rodents: Serre1 C1.
05-01-24 1x Dead plant: No information: Serre1 C1.