Vines and Climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Blechnum fragile (Liebm.) C. V. Morton & Lellinger, Amer. Fern J. 57: 68. 1967.

Fig. 5. A-C

BASIONYM: Lomaria fragilis Liebm.

Slightly woody fern, hemiepiphytic, scandent by means of adventitious roots, attaining 2 m in length. Rhizomes thick, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, densely covered with subulate, slihtly undulate, ciliate, ferruginous scales, 8-17 mm long. Fronds more or less clustered, arching, ascendent or pendulous, dimorphic; blades pinnate, membranaceous. Sterile fronds 40-60 × 4-12 cm, with an elliptical outline, the apex acuminate or caudate, the base acute (the pinnae gradually reduced in size toward the base); pinnae 25-75 pairs, oblong-deltate, the apex acuminate, the margins revolute, sometimes with minute callus-like projections; the upper surface dull, with a prominent midvein; the lower surface dull, paler than the upper surface, with a prominent midvein; stipe 10-18 cm long, blackish or brown, with some vestigial pinnae. Fertile fronds slightly smaller than the sterile ones; pinnae 28-41 pairs, linear; indusia half as wide as the pinna.

Phenology: Found in fertile condition throughout the year.

Status: Native, commonCollections Examined:Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 3064; 7815; 7828; 10864; 11446.
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