73 Blechnum spicant (L.) Roth

This species has a disjunct distribution (Europe, E. Asia and western N. America). A few varieties are distinguished, e. g. var. niponicum (Kuntze) Miyabe & Kudo forming the Japanese population. The species is classified among the circumpolar plants (Hultén, Circumpol. I, p. 152 and map 143). It is, however, lacking in most of E. Europe, Asia and N. America. It is probably extinct on the island of Åland (Finland). Cf. also Meusel et al. 1965, map p. 12.