Doodia

Abstract: The fern family Blechnaceae is cosmopolitan; however, the vast majority of species are placed in Blechnum, which occurs predominantly in the Southern Hemisphere. There are two areas that are particularly species–rich: the south–west Pacific (including Australasia), and Central and South America. Using chloroplast DNA sequences, we report the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Blechnaceae, including all genera widely recognised in recent treatments, and over half of the species. There is strong support for several major clades, which we characterise morphologically and geographically, and some of their interrelationships. Blechnum is confirmed as polyphyletic. Blechnum indicum and B. serrulatum are more closely related to Salpichlaena and Stenochlaena, and are segregated as a new genus, Telmatoblechnum. Alternative generic circumscriptions are discussed for the remainder of Blechnum. In the absence of morphological characters to diagnose the clades within core Blechnum, and for the sake of taxonomic stability, we advocate a broad circumscription for Blechnum. Brainea and Sadleria are retained as their relationships are not well resolved, but Doodia and Pteridoblechnum are clearly nested within the core of Blechnum and we provide four new names in Blechnum. Additionally, given the focus of our sampling, we discuss the biogeography of the south–west Pacific, where immigration has been more important in community assembly than what might be superficially inferred from patterns of endemism (with ca. 60% of species endemic to individual land areas).

Abstract: The Blechnaceae is one of the most speciose fern families in New Zealand, with two genera represented: Blechnum and Doodia. We se‐quenced the chloroplast trnL‐trnF locus for all of the Blechnaceae species indigenous to New Zealand, plus several non‐indigenous species. Although deeper relationships were not well resolved by phylogenetic analyses of these DNA sequences, several groupings of species were consistently recovered. Some of these relationships have been previously suspected on the basis of morphological similarity and/or hybridisation (e.g., the B. procerum group), and are consistent with variation in base chromosome numbers, but others were unexpected (e.g., the relationship of B. fluviatile and B. vulcanicum). The species of Doodia sampled here were found to be monophyletic, and were nested within a paraphyletic Blechnum. Infraspecific variation in the trnL‐trnF locus was detected within six New Zealand species, and may prove useful for future phylogeographic and taxonomic studies.

Abstract: Summary The New Zealand and southern Australian form of Doodia media R.Br, is separable from the type from Queensland and is described here as subspecies australis. D. squarrosa Col. is reinstated as a species distinct from D. caudata (Cav.)R.Br. The hybrid D. caudata × media ssp. australis is described and named D. × digena. D. milnei Carr is recognised as a full species restricted to the Kermadec Islands. The Australian species D. aspera R.Br, is recorded for the first time in New Zealand. A key to the New Zealand taxa is given, based on field grown plants, both living and as herbarium specimens, and plants grown in a uniform environment for two years. Typification, descriptions, synonymy of New Zealand material, habitat data, distribution maps, and citation of specimens examined are given for each taxon.

Abstract: D. mediae R. Br. afFinis sed stipitibus rhachidibusque sine pilis; a D. aspera pinnis inferioribus per costam affixus differt. Rhizoma erecta vel ascendens, interdumramosa; paleae atrae, lanceolato-lineares, acuminatae, 3—5 mm longae. Frondes fertiles sterilesque similares. Stipes, rhachis et costa paleis sparsis atris praeditis quae exutae, basin versus stipitem tuberculatae minutae remnentes. Stipes ater ad fuscus, 6—21 cm longus; paleae 1-—3 mm longae. Lamina anguste elliptica, elliptico-linearis, ad oblanceolato-linearis, 12—44x3.5—13