Blechnum auratum spores grow into a hard fern native to the wet tropical biome of Central and South Tropical America — from Mexico and Central America south through the Andes to Bolivia and Brazil. Described by Fée (Antoine Laurent Apollinaire Fée, 1789–1874, French pharmacist and botanist who made major contributions to tropical fern taxonomy) and transferred to Blechnum by Tryon & Stolze. The epithet auratum means 'golden', likely referring to the golden-brown colour of the stipes or rachis. Produces pinnate fronds with the characteristic Blechnum dimorphism between sterile and fertile fronds. The genus Blechnum has undergone extensive revision following molecular phylogenetic analysis — many former Blechnum species have been reassigned to genera including Parablechnum, Neoblechnum and Lomariocycas. Note: this product offers spores, not seeds — ferns reproduce by spores, which germinate under sterile, humid conditions through a prothallus stage. Family Blechnaceae, Order Polypodiales.Partial shade to full shade; moist, humus-rich soils; warm wet tropical to subtropical conditions; high humidity. Spore germination: sterile humid substrate, weeks to months. 'Auratum' = golden; Fée (1789–1874, French pharmacist-botanist, tropical fern specialist); Tryon & Stolze Pinnate fronds; dimorphic sterile/fertile fronds; typical Blechnum morphology; wet tropical forests Central & S. Tropical America — wet tropical biome; Mexico/Central America to Bolivia and Brazil Spores (not seeds) — sterile humid germination; Blechnaceae extensively revised by molecular phylogenetics Partial shade; moist soils; warm wet tropical; Family Blechnaceae Blechnum auratum is a golden-stemed hard fern of the American wet tropics — from the forests of Central America to the Andean slopes of Bolivia, part of a broadly distributed Neotropical hard fern flora in a genus that molecular phylogenetics has shown to be far more complex than previously understood. IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
