| Neoblechnum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Suborder: | Aspleniineae |
| Family: | Blechnaceae |
| Genus: | Neoblechnum Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich |
| Species: | N. brasiliense |
| Binomial name | |
| Neoblechnum brasiliense (Desv.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Neoblechnum is a genus of ferns in the family Blechnaceae, subfamily Blechnoideae, with a single species Neoblechnum brasiliense, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The genus is accepted in a 2016 classification of the family Blechnaceae, but other sources sink it into a very broadly defined Blechnum, equivalent to the whole of the PPG I subfamily; the species is then known as Blechnum brasiliense. It is called Brazilian dwarf tree fern, red Brazilian tree fern, and red dwarf tree fern.
Description
The erect rhizome of Neoblechnum brasiliense forms a thin stipe-stubbed trunk up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in height. The new foliage is a striking deep red color. As the fronds mature it turns to a glossy green. On some selections, the new fronds emerge a pinkish-red.
Distribution
The fern is native to the warm and humid subtropical forests of South America.
Habitats include:
- the Atlantic Forest biome, within southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and the interiors of Argentina and Paraguay.
- the Amazon region, in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Guyana.
- Guatemala.
Cultivation
Neoblechnum brasiliense is cultivated as an ornamental plant. In the UK (under the synonym Blechnum brasiliense) it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. As it will not tolerate temperatures below 15 °C (59 °F) it must be grown under glass all year in temperate regions.
Cultivars
Named cultivars include:
- 'Crispum' — segments have prominently crisped margins
- 'Cristatum' — segments are crested
- 'Volcano' — red dwarf tree fern, new foliage is red
Gallery
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New red fronds emerging, Jardin des Plantes conservatory
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Specimen in the United States Botanic Garden conservatory
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References
- ^ PPG I (2016), "A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns", Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54 (6): 563–603, doi:10.1111/jse.12229, S2CID 39980610
- Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (November 2019), "Neoblechnum brasiliense", Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World, 8.11, retrieved 2019-12-23
- Gasper, André Luís De; Dittrich, Vinícius Antonio De Oliveira; Smith, Alan Reid & Salino, Alexandre (2016-09-21), "A classification for Blechnaceae (Polypodiales: Polypodiopsida): New genera, resurrected names, and combinations", Phytotaxa, 275 (3): 191–227, doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.275.3.1, ISSN 1179-3163, retrieved 2019-12-22
- Christenhusz, Maarten J.M. & Chase, Mark W. (2014), "Trends and concepts in fern classification", Annals of Botany, 113 (9): 571–594, doi:10.1093/aob/mct299, PMC 3936591, PMID 24532607
- ^ GRIN-Global Web v 1.9.7.1: Taxonomy profile for Blechnum brasiliense
- National Gardening Association: Blechnum brasiliense
- ^ Forest Ferns.uk: cultivation of Blechnum brasiliense
- "RHS Plantfinder - Blechnum brasiliense". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- Longwoodgardens.org: Longwood Gardens Plant Explorer — Blechnum brasiliense 'Crispum'
- Thompson-morgan.com: Blechnum brasiliense 'Volcano' (Red Dwarf tree fern)
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Neoblechnum | |
| Neoblechnum brasiliense | |
| Blechnum brasiliense | |