New and existing combinations in Palaeotropical Phlegmariurus (Lycopodiaceae) and lectotypification of the type species Phlegmariurus phlegmaria (L.) T.Sen & U.Sen.

Ashley R Field,Peter D Bostock

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.20.4007

Abstract

The genus Phlegmariurus Holubis recognised more widely than originally proposed and is circumscribed to include both Neotropic and Palaeotropic epiphytic and terrestrial species of Huperzioid Lycopodiaceae that have isotomous shoots, lack bulbils in their sporophyllous shoots and have spores with convex lateral margins and foveolate-fossulate sculpture restricted to their distal surfaces. New combinations with Phlegmariurus are proposed for 81 species and existing combinations identified for 33 species originating from the Palaeotropics. This installs a generic circumscription that is consistent between the Neotropics and Palaeotropics. A lectotype is designated for the type species of the genus, Phlegmariurus phlegmaria (L.) T.Sen & U.Sen

Highlights

The Lycopodiaceae is a globally distributed family of homosporous Lycopodiophytes in which the species exhibit shoot-forms associated with their habitat
The most widely adopted of these classifications was the four-genus classification of Øllgaard (1987) which recognised Lycopodium L., Lycopodiella Holub, Huperzia Bernh. and Phylloglossum Kunze and was supported by a comprehensive nomenclatural index (Øllgaard 1989a)
Recent molecular phylogenetic investigations of the family and new morphological observations present a hypothesis that the relationship between Phylloglossum drummondii and Huperzia is equivocal and that the genus Huperzia sensu Øllgaard (1987) is paraphyletic or at best weakly supported (Christenhusz et al 2011, Ji et al 2008, Whittier 2006, Whittier and Braggins 1992, 2000, Whittier and Storchova 2007, Wikström and Kenrick 1997, Wikström and Kenrick 2000, 2001, Wikström et al 1999, Yatsentyuk et al 2001)

Summary

Introduction

The Lycopodiaceae is a globally distributed family of homosporous Lycopodiophytes in which the species exhibit shoot-forms associated with their habitat. New and existing combinations in Palaeotropical Phlegmariurus (Lycopodiaceae) bined with Lycopodium L., Huperzia Holub and Urostachys Herter and from characters described in these species protologues. Heterotypic synonyms: Based on a morphological comparison of living and herbarium specimens from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Fiji we consider the following taxa to belong to the same widespread but extremely scarce species: Lycopodium caudifolium Alderw., Bull. Synonyms: Huperzia fargesii (Herter) Holub, Folia Geobot. IPNI ID: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77125062-1 P. giganteus (Herter) A.R.Field & Bostock comb.

Results

Conclusion