Blechum pyramidatum
Content
Description
Spreading to erect perennial herb 30-70 cm tall. Younger stem quadrate to bisulcate, pubescent. Petiole 5 mm long; blade ovate to elliptic, 2-12 x 1-7 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded to attenuate, both surfaces pubescent, margin entire to crenate. Inflorescence subsessile to pedunculate, densely bracteate, 4-sided, dichasiate spike, 3-6 cm long; peduncle 5-15 mm long, pubescent; rachis pubescent; dichasia opposite, sessile to subsessile, 1-3-flowered; bracts sessile to petiolate, broadly ovate to cordate, 8-19 x 5.5-14 mm, pubescent, apex acute; bracteoles sessile to petiolate, ovate to lance-ovate to lance-elliptic to oblanceolate, 4.5-11 x 1-4.5 mm, pubescent. Calyx 2.5-5 mm long, lobes equal, subulate, 2-3.8 mm long, pubescent; corolla pale lavender to purple to white, extending well beyond subtending bracts, 10-20 mm long, pubescent, tube 7.5-13 mm long, limb subregular to subbilipped, upper lip 1.5-6 mm long, lobes 1.5-6 x 1-4.5 mm, lower lip 1.5-6 mm long, lobes 1.5-5.5 x 1-6 mm, all lobes broadly subelliptic to subcircular; stamens included or barely exserted from mouth of corolla, longer pair 2.5-5 mm long, shorter pair 1.5-3 mm long, filaments glabrous, anthers 1-1.6 mm long, glabrous, thecae rounded or acute basally. Capsule 5.5-7 x 3 x 1.5 mm, pubescent, stipe 0.4-0.5 mm long, body ellipsoidal, 5-6.5 mm long; seeds 1.5-2 x 1.3-1.7 mm, surfaces smooth or with short, stiff, often glandlike protuberances.
Distribution
E and S Mexico present, Guianas present, Southern America: Bahamas (Bahamas present), northern S America present
Ranges from E and S Mexico to northern S America, also in the West Indies and Bahamas; common in the Guianas in open waste or cultivated places in either dry or moist habitats; 37 collections studied from the Guianas (GU: 4; SU: 20; FG: 13).