Molino De Miguel, SoniaSundue, MichaelTesto, Weston2026-02-262026-02-262021-09-02Molino, S., M. Sundue & W. Testo. 2021. First record of sporangiasters in the Blechnaceae. American Fern Journal. 111(3): 196–2040002-844410.1640/0002-8444-111.3.196https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133343Thanks to David Barrington, Robbin Moran, Carmen Prada, and Teresa Terrazas for their helpful comments, and to Myriam Gonzalez for the SEM photos. Sonia Molino received support from UCM and Banco Santander for the pre-doctoral contract of (CT27/18) and for the project with reference PR87/19-22616, which financed part of the work. Michael Sundue received support from the Tryon Pteridophyte Library at The University of Vermont.Sporangiasters are an uncommon type of paraphyses, occurring in a handful of leptosporangiate fern genera. We report sporangiasters in Parablechnum nesophilum, which is their first recorded occurrence in the Blechnaceae. We provide evidence of their homology to sporangia and discuss their functional significance. The presence of sporangiasters in P. nesophilum is surprising because the species has a well-developed indusium, and paraphyses are generally most common in exindusiate ferns. We surmise that these sporangiasters act as a second stage of protection for the developing sporangia after the indusium retracts. Alternatively, it is possible that sporangiasters may influence the vagility of spores by inhibiting dehiscence and limiting the ability of the annulus to disperse its spores.engjournal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1640/0002-8444-111.3.196https://bioone.org/journals/american-fern-journal/volume-111/issue-3/0002-8444-111.3.196/First-Record-of-Sporangiasters-in-the-Blechnaceae/10.1640/0002-8444-111.3.196.shortopen access582.37/.39581.4581.33581.5AnatomyMorphologyParaphysesSoriSpore dispersalBotánica (Biología)Ecología (Biología)2417 Biología Vegetal (Botánica)2417.11 Anatomía Vegetal2417.15 Desarrollo Vegetal