Blechnum spicant (L.) Sm.
  • Mém. Acad. Roy. Sci. (Turin) 1790-91: 411. 1793 nom. inval.
  • Hard fern


Cite taxon page as 'WFO (2025): Blechnum spicant (L.) Sm. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0001119112. Accessed on: 04 Jun 2025'

Local Descriptions

Order descriptions by:

General Information

Stems slender, short-creeping or ascending, not climbing. Leaves dimorphic, cespitose, erect or spreading, fertile leaves more erect and longer than sterile leaves. Petioles of fertile leaves reddish brown to purple-black, 15-60 cm, coarsely scaly proximally. Petioles of sterile leaves reddish brown, 2-30 cm, coarsely scaly proximally. Fertile blades erect, narrowly rhombic, 1-pinnate, without conform terminal pinna, 25-65 × 3-15 cm, glabrous. Sterile blades spreading, narrowly oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate, pinnatifid to apex and so without conform terminal pinna, 20-75 × 3-14 cm, tapering at base, glabrous. Rachises of fertile and sterile leaves with indument of filiform, spreading scales abaxially. Fertile pinnae not articulate to rachis, sessile, decurrent and surcurrent to rachis; larger pinnae slightly curved, linear, 25-32 × 1.5-2 mm; margins entire, slightly to moderately revolute; costae with indument of a few small scales abaxially, often concealed by sori. Sterile pinnae closely spaced, not articulate to rachis, base fully adnate; larger pinnae curved, linear to oblong-linear or barely wider beyond middle, 15-35 × 3.5-5 mm; margins entire. 2 n = 68.

  • Provided by: [B].Flora of North America @ efloras.org
    • Flora of North America @ efloras.orgGeneral Information

      Stems slender, short-creeping or ascending, not climbing. Leaves dimorphic, cespitose, erect or spreading, fertile leaves more erect and longer than sterile leaves. Petioles of fertile leaves reddish brown to purple-black, 15-60 cm, coarsely scaly proximally. Petioles of sterile leaves reddish brown, 2-30 cm, coarsely scaly proximally. Fertile blades erect, narrowly rhombic, 1-pinnate, without conform terminal pinna, 25-65 × 3-15 cm, glabrous. Sterile blades spreading, narrowly oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate, pinnatifid to apex and so without conform terminal pinna, 20-75 × 3-14 cm, tapering at base, glabrous. Rachises of fertile and sterile leaves with indument of filiform, spreading scales abaxially. Fertile pinnae not articulate to rachis, sessile, decurrent and surcurrent to rachis; larger pinnae slightly curved, linear, 25-32 × 1.5-2 mm; margins entire, slightly to moderately revolute; costae with indument of a few small scales abaxially, often concealed by sori. Sterile pinnae closely spaced, not articulate to rachis, base fully adnate; larger pinnae curved, linear to oblong-linear or barely wider beyond middle, 15-35 × 3.5-5 mm; margins entire. 2 n = 68.

      Distribution Map

       
      • Native distribution
      Found in
      • Europe Northern Europe Ireland

      Nationally Preferred Names

      NameLanguageCountry
      Hard fernEnglishIE
      Raithneach chruaIrishIE

      Other Local Names

      NameLanguageCountry
      Ceanabhán dubh chosachIrishIE
      Deer fern
      Black-footed canavawnEnglishIE
      Ceannabhán dubhcosachIrishIE
      Raithneach cruaidhIrishIE
      Raithneach (an) mhadraIrishIE

       Information From

      Blechnaceae
      https://about.worldfloraonline.org/tens/pteridophyte-phylogeny-group
      World Flora Online Data. 2022.
      • A CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).
      Flora of North America @ efloras.org
      World Flora Online Data. 2024.
      • B Flora of North America Association
      Irish Vernacular Names
      World Flora Online Data. 2024.
      • C All Rights Reserved