Blechnum tabulare

Mountain blechnum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Athyriales
Family: Blechnaceae
Genus: Blechnum
Species: B. tabulare
Binomial name
Blechnum tabulare
Thunb.

Blechnum tabulare or the Mountain blechnum is a large, attractive fern that is indigenous to sub-saharan Africa.

Description

They grow in a similar way to the classic tree ferns (Cyathea), and are also often mistaken for being cycads.

This species can be distinguished from other species of Blechnum, by the bases of its pinnae. This is the only species in which the base of each pinna has an uneven shape. All other species of Blechnum have equally shaped pinna bases.[1]

Distribution and habitat

It occurs from Cape Town, South Africa, in the south, as far north as Uganda and Nigeria. This fern's natural habitat is along river banks and on the margins of afro-montane forests. It grows very well in shady areas, making it a popular plant for African gardens. Unfortunately this has led to a large illegal trade in these plants which has seen their numbers decline.

  • Plantz-Africa treatment: Blechnum tabulare
  • Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Blechnum tabulare". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
  1. ↑ http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/blechtab.htm


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