TL;DR: A cytotaxonomic survey of the ferns and fern allies of Australia (including Lord Howe Island) is presented, finding a number of species-complexes has been found and further chromosome counts added to intercontinental species complexes.
Abstract: A cytotaxonomic survey of the ferns and fern allies of Australia (including Lord Howe Island) is presented. Five-hundred-and-twenty-six chromosome counts of 268 Australian species, subspecies, varieties, variants and hybrids are recorded, only a small number having been previously investigated by other botanists on Australian material. Diploids represent c. 62% of the counts on species and c. 38% on polyploids, the latter ranging principally from triploids to a single decaploid and dodecaploid (but no heptaploids). More than one ploidy level has been reported in 19 taxa (almost 8% of taxa). Counts of 10x for Asplenium aethiopicum and 12x for A. flabellifolium are the highest definite ploidy levels for the Australian pteridophyte flora. Chromosome counts for 29 families and 89 genera are cited. Only diploids were reported for Osmundaceae and Cyatheaceae, but only polyploids for the Psilotaceae, Vittariaceae and Ophioglossaceae. An analysis is given of the levels of ploidy in 248 taxa, excluding the Lycopodiaceae and Hymenophyllaceae. The percentages of diploids and polyploids in Australian species are compared with those of nearby countries. Many species reported on here have never been cytologically investigated before, while others have not been studied previously on Australian material. The following genera have been examined cytologically for the first time: Coveniella Tindale, n = 41; Paraceterach (F.Muell.) Copel., n = 29; 'Oenotrichia Copel.', 2n = 82 (2x); Revwattsia (Watts) D.L.Jones, 2n = c. 328 (8x); and Pteridoblechnum Hennipman (2n = 54). The phylogeny of the genera is discussed in the light of these findings. Certain families such as the Adiantaceae, Cyatheaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, Lindsaeaceae and Marsileaceae were given special attention by collecting as much living material as possible. A number of species-complexes has been found and further chromosome counts added to intercontinental species complexes. The Dopp-Manton and Braithwaite forms of reproductive apomixis have been reported amongst some genera. Endemism, hybridity and apogamy amongst Australian pteridophytes are discussed, as well as homosporous and heterosporous species. The new combination Phymatosorus membranifolius (R.Br.) Tindale is made.
TL;DR: The phylogeny of Marsileaceae is investigated here using information from morphology and rbcL sequence data, which resulted in two most‐parsimonious trees that differ only in the placement of the fossil Hydropteris.
Abstract: Recent phylogenetic studies have provided compelling evidence that confirms the once disputed hypothesis of monophyly for heterosporous leptosporangiate ferns (Marsileaceae and Salviniaceae). Hypotheses for relationships among the three genera of Marsileaceae (Marsilea, Regnellidium, and Pilularia), however, have continued to be in conflict. The phylogeny of Marsileaceae is investigated here using information from morphology and rbcL sequence data. In addition, relationships among all heterosporous ferns, including the whole‐plant fossil Hydropteris pinnata are reconsidered. Data sets of 71 morphological and 1239 rbcL characters for 23 leptosporangiate ferns, including eight heterosporous ingroup taxa and 15 homosporous outgroup taxa, were subjected to maximum parsimony analysis. Morphological analyses were carried out both with and without the fossil Hydropteris, and it was excluded from all analyses with rbcL data. An annotated list of the 71 morphological characters is provided in the appendix. For com...
TL;DR: Comparative morphological study reveals that all heterosporous ferns bear indusiate sori on a branched, nonlaminate structure that is referred to as the sorophore; this expanded definition highlights homology previously obscured by the use of different terms.
Abstract: Heterosporous water ferns (Marsileaceae and Salviniaceae) are the only extant group of plants to have evolved heterospory since the Paleozoic. These ferns possess unusual reproductive structures traditionally termed “sporocarps.” Using an evolutionary framework, we critically examine the complex homology issues pertaining to these structures. Comparative morphological study reveals that all heterosporous ferns bear indusiate sori on a branched, nonlaminate structure that we refer to as the sorophore; this expanded definition highlights homology previously obscured by the use of different terms. By using a homology‐based concept, we aim to discontinue the use of historically and functionally based morphological terminology. We recognize the sorophore envelope as a structure that surrounds the sorophore and sori. The sorophore envelope is present in Marsileaceae as a sclerenchymatous sporocarp wall and in Azolla as a parenchymatous layer, but it is absent in Salvinia. Both homology assessments and phylogene...
TL;DR: Observations with light and scanning electron microscopy indicate that the three living marsileaceous fern genera each have distinctive spores, particularly with regard to the perine and acrolamella, which support a division of Marsilea into two groups.
Abstract: Spores of the aquatic heterosporous fern family Marsileaceae differ markedly from spores of Salviniaceae, the only other family of heterosporous ferns and sister group to Marsileaceae, and from spores of all homosporous ferns. The marsileaceous outer spore wall (perine) is modified above the aperture into a structure, the acrolamella, and the perine and acrolamella are further modified into a remarkable gelatinous layer that envelops the spore. Observations with light and scanning electron microscopy indicate that the three living marsileaceous fern genera (Marsilea, Pilularia, and Regnellidium) each have distinctive spores, particularly with regard to the perine and acrolamella. Several spore characters support a division of Marsilea into two groups. Spore character evolution is discussed in the context of developmental and possible functional aspects. The gelatinous perine layer acts as a flexible, floating organ that envelops the spores only for a short time and appears to be an adaptation of marsileac...
TL;DR: A new fossil species from the Cenomanian of Kansas extends the megafossil record of the genus Marsilea back to the mid-Cretaceous when previously only megaspores attributed to the family occurred during this time.
Abstract: Discovery of compression/impression megafossil material from the Cenomanian (mid-Cretaceous) in Kansas documents the occurrence of the genus Marsilea during this age. Only vegetative material has been found as complete plants; associated structures that may be fertile structures could belong to the genus also. This new fossil species extends the megafossil record of the genus back to the mid-Cretaceous when previously only megaspores attributed to the family occurred during this time. The fossil record of the heterosporous aquatic fern families is reviewed with emphasis on the Marsileaceae.