Telmatoblechnum serrulatum

Telmatoblechnum serrulatum, the toothed midsorus fern, is a species of fern in the family Blechnaceae, native to Florida, southeastern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, northern and western South America, Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.[2]

Telmatoblechnum serrulatum
Underside of frond
With Taxodium distichum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Aspleniineae
Family: Blechnaceae
Genus: Telmatoblechnum
Species:
T. serrulatum
Binomial name
Telmatoblechnum serrulatum
Swamp Fern Range[1]
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Blechnopsis serrulata (Rich.) C.Presl
    • Blechnum serrulatum Rich.
    • Blechnum serrulatum var. crespianum Bosco
    • Blechnum serrulatum var. distans Christ
    • Blechnum serrulatum f. nanum Hassl.
    • Blechnum serrulatum var. stierii (Rosenst.) Rosenst.
    • Blechnum stierii Rosenst.
    • Salpichlaena serrulata (Rich.) Trevis.
    • Spicanta serrulata (Rich.) Kuntze

Ecology and habitat

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The species is commonly found in freshwater marsh and swamp conditions in tropical or subtropical locations. It can also be found wet prairies, moist pine woods, and sometimes in forests[3] Specifically, in Florida the recorded habitat for this fern is moist and shady places.[4] The range for this fern species is from Florida to South America and has been recorded in Malaysia and Australia.[3]

It has shown good resistance to lead contamination when growing on coal mine tailings.[5]

Description

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This fern is comparable to other ferns that consist of a stipe growing from the rhizomes and pinnae growing from the rachis.[3] The entire above-ground specimen is called the frond. The fronds for this species are monomorphic and typically are about 30-50 cm in length and 7-16 cm wide.[3] This means that this fern can grow a bit more than four feet tall. At the base, the stipe is usually light brown, sometimes darker at the base, typically 10-70 cm long, and appears cylindrical.[3] The rhizomes form horizontally, even sometimes climbing tree trunks, and are covered in dark brown scales.[3] There is the presence of spores which are located on the underside of the pinnae, usually tan to brown in color. Additionally, there is a central costa that runs the length of the pinnae.[3]

Conservation

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This fern species has not been evaluated for conservation measures.[6] However, this species has been utilized for wetland restoration projects.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "GBIF".
  2. ^ a b Hassler, Michael (2023). "Telmatoblechnum serrulatum (Rich.) Perrie, D.J.Ohlsen & Brownsey; Taxon 63(4): 755 (2014)". worldplants.de. World Ferns. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Version 15.2. Retrieved 13 April 2023. Name: Swamp Fern, Saw Fern, Toothed midsorus fern (EN)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g [ Rolleri, C. H., Prada, C., Gabriel y Galán, J. M., Passarelli, L. M., & Ciciarelli, M. M. (2010). Morphology of the sporophyte and gametophyte of the swamp fern, Blechnum serrulatum (Blechnaceae, Pteridophyta). Australian Journal of Botany, 58(6), 508. https://doi.org/10.1071/bt09238]
  4. ^ a b Florida Native Plant Society
  5. ^ Andreola, Ariane; Rosini, Daniely Neckel; Campos, Mari Lucia; Biasi, Josieli Pietro; Citadini-Zanette, Vanilde; Da Costa Bortoluzzi, Roseli Lopes; Miquelutti, Davi José; Nicoleite, Edilane Rocha (2022). "Ferns and lycophytes in coal mining waste and tailing landfills". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 29 (22): 32415–32427. Bibcode:2022ESPR...2932415A. doi:10.1007/s11356-022-18894-9. PMID 35167024. S2CID 234825355.
  6. ^ Cambridge Botantic Garden