**Blechnum attenuatum *(Sw.) Mett.***

Syn: Blechnum attenuatum (Sw.) Mett. var. giganteum (Kaulf.) Bonap., Blechnum giganteum (Kaulf.) Schlechtend

Photos: Petra Ballings, Ballings 16, 07-06-2000, Castle Ray Vumba, private collection

A creeping to suberect rhizome carries dimorphic, tuffed fronds. The sterile lamina (0,3-1,8m x 45-360m) is narrowly elliptic in outline and pinnate, with pinnae that are completely joined to the rachis. The pinnae gradually reduce, lowermost pinnae rudimentary. Sterile pinnae margins are entire, the apex acute to attenuate. The fertile fronds (similar in size or longer than sterile fronds) have thin, linear pinnea with widened bases that are joined to the rachis. Linear sori cover the whole length of the fertile pinnae, linear indusium is entire.

Ecology: Terrestrial or lithophytic fern growing along streambanks in open montane grassland or shaded areas in evergreen forest, 100-2000m

Derivation of the specific name: attenuatum: tapering, pinnae taper to a sharp point

Distribution in southern Africa: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa

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