GENUS XII. 
BLECHNUM, Linnaus. 
HARD FKRX. 
GEN. CHAR. Sori forming: a continuous narrow line 
on the inner side of a series of transverse anastomosing 
venules near the mid-vein. Ind'/sium continuous, bursting 
on the side towards the mid-vein. Veins forked free ; 
mid-vein distinct ; venules of fertile fronds united by a 
longitudinal or transverse anastomosing receptacle pa- 
rallel to the midrib. 
The name is latinised from Wechnon, a Greek name for 
a fern. 
1. Blechnum Spicant, lioth. Common Hard 
Fern. Fronds dissimilar, linear-lanceolate; the fertile 
contracted erect, pinnate, with linear acute pinnae of 
which the margins reflex ; the barren ones prostrate pin- 
natifid with broadly linear blunt flat lobes. 
BLECHNUM SPICANT, Roth; Withering. BLECHNUM BORFALE, 
Swartz: Sm. Eng. Fl. iv., 303: Eng. Bot 1159: Hook and Arn. 
Fl. 575: Bab. Man. 415: Franc. 53. LOMABIA SPICANT, Desvaux : 
Newm. 89 ; Florigr. Brit, iv., 51. OSMUNDA SPICANT, Lintifeus. 
ASPLENIUM SPICANT, Bernhardi ACROSTICHCM SPICANT, Sib- 
thorp. ONOCLEA SPICANT, Hoffman. OSMUNDA BUREAUS, Sa- 
lisbury. SPICANTA BOREALIS, Presl. 
