Additional Taxa in Astrolepis

Abstract

A biosystematic study of the star-scaled cloak ferns (Benham, 1989), led to the description of the new genus Astrolepis Benham & Windham (Benham & Windham, 1992) and elucidated several new taxa. Because of the preparation of several new floristic treatments, it is necessary to describe these new taxa within Astrolepis. Based upon isozyme patterns from starch gel electrophoresis and chromosome pairing relationships (Benham, 1989), one new species was discovered and is described below. Additional results from the study also reveal that two races of A. sinuata exist at diploid and triploid levels, and three races of A. cochisensis exist at diploid, triploid and tetraploid levels. These races can be easily distinguished from one another on the basis of spore number per sporangium and spore size. These races will be recognized at the subspecific level in the following taxonomic revision. 1. Astrolepis sinuata (Lagasca ex Sw.) Benham & Windham la. Astrolepis sinuata subsp. sinuata This subspecies represents the apogamous 32-spored, triploid race (n = 87). Spore diameters for this subspecies range from 50-65 gim. It is widely distributed from South America through Mexico into the southwestern United States, Georgia, and the West Indies.