Tectariaceae

Abstract: Dryopteridaceae are a large family of leptosporangiate ferns exhibiting a rich diversity of morphological characteristics and generating many taxonomical controversies. Previous efforts to systematize this large group without a cladistic phylogenetic framework have not reached a consensus on circumscription of the family. In order to circumscribe the family and identify major groups within it, a broadscale phylogenetic analysis was conducted on these ferns plus representatives of putatively related families within the Eupolypods I clade. Two chloroplast loci, rbcL and atpB, were used in this study. A combined analysis of the two genes generated a well‐resolved and strongly supported overall phylogeny of the Dryopteridaceae. The results indicate that the Dryopteridaceae form a monophyletic group with the exception of Didymochlaena, Hypodematium, and Leucostegia and are sister to a large clade comprising Lomariopsidaceae, Tectariaceae, Polypodiaceae, Davalliaceae, and Oleandraceae. Of the three previously u...

Abstract: We inferred the classification of the Paleotropical climbing fern genus Arthropteris and its close relative Psammio­ sorus, a monotypic genus endemic to Madagascar. The classification of these ferns has until now been poorly understood. To address this, we sampled more than half of the species diversity covering the whole range of the genus including the outlying occurrence at the Juan Fernandez Islands. To reconstruct phylogenetic relationships, we obtained DNA sequences from up to six plastid genome regions, including coding and non-coding regions, for these two genera and representatives of all fami- lies of the eupolypod I clade, with an emphasis on the Tectariaceae. These data were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. We also obtained divergence time estimates. Three questions were addressed. (1) We established that Arthropteris and Psammiosorus form a well-supported clade representing a separate taxon based on their morphological distinctiveness, phylogenetic relationships, and separation since the Eocene from other accepted families of eupolypod ferns. (2) Psammiosorus was found to be nested within Arthropteris. (3) Our analyses supported recognition of a previously doubted species endemic to the karst regions of southern China and northern Vietnam. As a consequence of our results, we describe the new family Arthropteridaceae and introduce the new combination Arthropteris paucivenia for the Madagascan endemic previously treated under Psammiosorus.

Abstract: For studies on the fern family Tectariaceae for the Flora of China, four species previously treated as Ctenitopsis need new combinations in Tectaria. The new combinations are proposed here and information on their types is provided.