New Species in Adiantum from Brazil

Abstract

A new species of Adiantum, A. pulcherrimum Prado, is described from the Atlantic forests of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo States, and inland forest from Minas Gerais State, Brazil. It can be distinguished by long-creeping rhizomes, stipes with scattered minute and light brown hairs, laminae glaucous abaxially, median segments curved basiscopically, segment apices mostly long-acuminate or acute, and glabrous indusia. Illustrations of the diagnostic characters of the taxon as well as a key for the related species in Brazil are also presented. The genus Adiantum in Brazil is represented by ca 59 species, including one described here. Most species occur in primary and secondary forests in the southeastern region of the country, from sea level to 2000 m. In this area ca 62%, 34 spp., of the species known for Brazil have been found. Several recent studies have dealt with Brazilian Adiantum: Zimmer & Prado (1997); Prado (1997); Prado & Palacios-Rios (1998); Prado (2000); Lellinger & Prado (2001); Prado (2001); Prado & Lellinger (2002). This paper is an ad- ditional contribution toward a revision of Adiantum in Brazil and treats a new species from the Atlantic forests of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo States, and the inland forest of Minas Gerais State.