Newly recorded ferns from the flora of Myanmar in Natma Taung National Park

Abstract

Although Myanmar is a biodiversity hotspot, little is known about its flora, particularly lycophytes and ferns, due to a lack of intensive inventories. In 2017, work on a total of 299 species of lycophytes and ferns found throughout the country, including 84 species from Natma Taung National Park in the Chin State, was published. However, a comparison of the flora of Myanmar with those of adjacent countries suggests that many more species are likely also to be distributed in this country. In the present study, two field surveys conducted in Natma Taung National Park during 2015 to make a checklist of lycophytes and ferns resulted in the discovery of three fern species not previously recorded in the flora of Myanmar. All occur in other countries in Southeast Asia as well as in other tropical areas. These species are Pteris bella (Pteridaceae), Dryopteris lepidopoda (Dryopteridaceae), and Loxogramme duclouxii (Polypodiaceae). The results will provide valuable information for the Myanmar fern checklist that is currently being prepared.