Family

Blechnaceae

Nomenclature

Blechnum indicum Burm.f., Fl. Ind.: 231. 1768; Holttum, Rev. Fl. Malaya ed. 1, 2: 446. 1955 [‘1954’]; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 25: 18. 1971; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 300, f. 24.3 & 24.4. 1988; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 146, 180. 2000. – Blechnum serrulatum auct. non Bedd.: Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 132. 1883; Bonap., Not. Ptrid. 14: 58 1923; Tardieu & C.Chr., Fl. Indo-Chine 7(2): 208. 1940.

Description

Terrestrial, sometimes in flooded areas. Rhizome erect, sometimes forming a short trunk, densely scaly; scales gradually narrowing towards acuminate apex, up to 5 by 0.7 mm, bright brown in central portion, brown and thin in margin. Stipes up to 30 cm long, stramineous, scaly at base, glabrous upwards, not bearing any auricles. Laminae up to 50 by 18 cm, elliptic with acute apex; pinnae ascending, up to 30 pairs, subopposite, linear, truncate to cordate at sessile base, gradually narrowing towards acuminate but not pointed apex, minutely but sharply serrate at margin, up to 15 by 1.5 cm; soriferous pinnae usually narrower, about 7 mm wide; veins spreading nearly at right angles, about 1.5 mm apart near costa and usually twice forked, visible on both surfaces; subcoriaceous, glabrous throughout. Sori linear, along costa, usually from near rachis to less than 1 cm from apex; indusia thin but firm, often hidden under sori at maturity.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTH-EASTERN: Loei; PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Narathiwat.

Wider Distribution

India (Mishmee), Indochina, throughout Malesia to Polynesia and Australia.

Ecology

On plains in lower montain forests or near sea coast.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). This species is widespread and not under any known threats.