Blechnuin. | FILICES. 53: 
simply pinnate or pinnatifid, rarely undivided, very rarely bipinnate, 
dimorphic ; the outer fronds sterile with large and broad flat pinnae, the 
inner fertile with smaller linear pinnae. Veins free, not anastomosing. 
Sori linear, in a continuous elongated line occupying the whole space 
between the midrib and the margin. Indusium linear, membranous, com- 
posed of the more or less modified edge of the frond, at first revolute over 
the sorus, ultimately spreading. Sporangia stalked, girt by an incomplete 
vertical ring, bursting transversely. 
The above description is that of Lomaria, the group to which the New Zealand 
species belong. But Blechnum and Lomaria only differ from one another in the fact 
that in Blechnum there is an evident interspace between the margin of the frond and 
the sori, whereas in Lomaria there is no such interspace, the sori occupying the whole 
space between the midrib and the margin. This difference is now not considered to be 
of generic importance ; and pteridologists have transferred the whole of the Lomariae 
to Blechnum ; course which I have adopted in this work. 
A large group of nearly 50 species, most abundant in the South Temperate Zone, 
but with outlying species in most temperate and tropical countries. Of the 14 species 
found in New Zealand, 4 or perhaps 5 are endemic, 2 are widely distributed in the 
South Temperate Zone, the remainder are found either in Australia or the Pacific 
islands, or in both. 
A. Fronds pinnate or pinnatifid, rarely simple. 
* Sterile fronds pinnatifid (or rarely simple), central and lower pinnae connected 
by their dilated bases. 
Fronds 1-3 ft. long, often pendulous, broad, coriaceous, sometimes 
simple. Pinnae few, large, 4-12 in. long, 1-14 in. broad .. 1. B. Paterson. 
Fronds 1-4ft. high, narrow, erect. Pinnae very numerous, 
1-3 in. x 1-+in., reddish or dirty-white beneath .. .. 2. B. discolor. 
** Sterile fronds pinnatifid above, pinnate below, central and lower pinnae free, 
but more or less dilated at their bases. 
a. Pinnae at the base of the frond not reduced in size. 
Fronds 4-14 in., lanceolate-deltoid. Pinnae 1-3 in., lanceolate 
or ensiform, the lowest pair often deflexed .. 2 ink .. 3& B. vulcanicum. 
b. Pinnae gradually reduced in size towards the base of the frond. 
Fronds 1-3 ft. x 3-6in.,~ submembranous. Pinnae 13-3 in. 
x 1-2in., lanceolate, falcate, acuminate. Pinnae of fertile 
fronds 2-3 in. long 4. B. Norfolkianum.. 
Fronds 6-l18in. x 2-4in., submembranous. Pinnae 1-2 in. 
x £-1in., oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, sinuate-crenate. 
Pinnae of fertile fronds 3-14 in., narrow-linear, acute .. 5. B. lanceolatum. 
Fronds 9-30 in. x 14-4 in., fleshy or coriaceous. Pinnae $23 in. 
x 1-1 in., linear-oblong to lanceolate, entire. Pinnae of fertile 
fronds 3—14 in., linear-oblong, obtuse PY he .. 6. B, durum. 
Rhizome short. Fronds 4-12in. x }-lin., dark-green, coriace- 
ous. Pinnae 4—-}in. x 4in., oblong to suborbicular. Fertile 
fronds shorter than the sterile xa ys > .. 7. B. Banksti. 
Rhizome creeping. Fronds 2-12in. x $-}in., coriaceous to 
submembranous. Pinnae }+-4in., ovate-oblong to  linear- 
oblong. Fertile fronds longer than the sterile ; pinnae linear- 
oblong, obtuse .. +4 2A 1.¢ ¥ .. 8. B. penna-marina- 
*** Sterile fronds pinnate, or pinnatifid above ; pinnae not dilated at their bases. 
Rhizome short, thick. Fronds often very large, 1-8 it. long. 
Pinnae 3-12 in. x 4-1 in., linear, coriaceous * ‘ 
Rhizome very long, climbing. Sterile fronds dimorphic ; lower 
with small rounded pinnae ; upper with long lanceolate falcate 
ones .. 2 ‘be - ‘A . 10. B. filiforme 
9. B. capense. 
