Fern Flora of Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil: Blechnaceae (Polypodiopsida)

ABSTRACT We present the taxonomic treatment of the fern family Blechnaceae for the Flora of Viçosa, based on typology, morphology, and field observations. We report the occurrence of seven species and two putative hybrids, belonging to three genera: Blechnum appendiculatum, B. ×caudatum, B. ×confluens, B. gracile, B. aff. juergensii, B. occidentale, B. polypodioides, Neoblechnum brasiliense, and Parablechnum brasiliense, comb. nov. Among these taxa, four names are rescued from synonymy: B. appendiculatum, B. ×confluens, B. juergensii and P. brasiliense (this, with a new combination into Parablechnum). The putative hybrids, B. ×caudatum and B. ×confluens, are formed by the crossing of B. gracile × B. occidentale, and B. occidentale × B. polypodioides, respectively - as suggested by our observations in the field, morphological intermediancy, and literature review. Future studies involving cytogenetics, genetics, and palynology will be needed to better understand the complex of Blechnum hybrids, including the best status for B. aff. juergensii.