Telmatoblechnum Perrie, D.J.Ohlsen & Brownsey

Smith, Alan R. & Kessler, Michael, 2018, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXXIII. Blechnaceae, Phytotaxa 334 (2), pp. 99-117 : 114

Telmatoblechnum Perrie, D.J.Ohlsen & Brownsey , Taxon 63(4): 755. 2014.

Telmatoblechnum comprises only two species, a single widespread neotropical one, T. serrulatum , and one other very similar species in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Malesia ( Perrie et al. 2014): Telmatoblechnum indicum (Burm.f.) Perrie, D.J.Ohlsen & Brownsey. The genus is characterized by monomorphic leaves, serrate and articulate pinnae, lack of enlarged vein endings (these fusing with the cartilaginous, serrulate pinna margins), long-creeping rhizomes, minute rhizome scales to 4 mm long, and a unique chromosome base number in the family: x = 36. Typically, plants of Telmatoblechnum grow in swampy, lowland, open habitats, or along streams, and may form dense thickets.

The genus is sister to the paleotropical Stenochlaena (ca. 6 spp.) in phylogenetic analyses (Gabriel y Galán et al. 2013, Gasper et al. 2017); Stenochlaena has scandent rhizomes and climbs trees.