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NZ Plants
Blechnum procerum - small kiokio
Hard fern family: Blechnaceae
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Plant with erect fertile fronds and prostrate sterile fronds
L Jensen
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Fertile frond (left) and sterile frond (right)
I MacDonald
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Frond stalk (stipe) with scales
L Jensen
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Stipe scales
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, midrib (rachis) and leaflets
L Jensen
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Frond upper surface, rachis scales
L Jensen
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Leaflet, upper surface with scales
L Jensen
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Leaflet, lower surface
L Jensen
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Frond lower surface, rachis with scales
L Jensen
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Fertile frond upper surface, rachis and leaflet
L Jensen
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Fertile leaflets lower surface with sori
L Jensen
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Leaflet lower surface, marginal indusia covering unopened sporangia
L Jensen
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Blechnum procerum is a small fern with a creeping stem (rhizome)with sterile fronds bearing bronze-green leaflets of almost uniform size. Sterile fronds often are prostrate on the ground while the fertile fronds are upright.
An endemic species found in subalpine forest on the North Island down to sea level on the South Island and subantarctic islands.
Vegetative characteristics |
Fertile frond and sporangia |
|---|---|
Plant form: horizontal fronds up to 950 mm in length. |
Frond appearance: erect up to 750 mm, leaflets very narrow, mostly equal in length and widely spaced |
Frond stalk, midrib: scales lanceolate to linear, red-brown |
Sporangium location: on lower frond surface |
Frond shape: elliptic to oblong |
Sporangium position: leaflet margin |
Frond blade: pinnate (divided 1 x into leaflets or pinnae) |
Sporangium distribution: in groups (sori) |
Frond surface: leathery |
Sorus shape: in a continuous line either side of midrib |
Leaflets: oblong, blunt or pointed, attached by a short stalk to rachis |
Sorus covering: linear covering (indusium) opening toward midrib |
