The Pteridaceae family diversity in Togo.

Komla Elikplim Abotsi,Jean-Yves Dubuisson,Aboudou R Radji,Kouami Kokou,Germinal Rouhan

doi:10.3897/bdj.3.e5078

Abstract

BackgroundThe Pteridaceae family is the largest fern family in Togo by its specific and generic diversity. Like all other families of ferns in the country, Pteridaceae are poorly studied and has no identification key. The objective of this study is to perform a taxonomic revision and list establishment of this family of leptosporangiate ferns in the light of current available knowledge about the family. Pteridaceae was also assessed in terms of its diversity and conservation status, this was conducted through the recent field data and the existing herbaria specimens. The current study permits to confirm the presence of Pteris similis Kuhn. which brought the number of Pteridaceae to 17 in Togo.New informationThis study provides first local scientific information about the fern flora of Togo. It confirmed the presence of Pteris similis Kuhn. in Togo and brought the Pteridaceae family diversity to 17 species. A species identification key is provided for the easy identification of the Pteridaceae of Togo.

Highlights

IntroductionIn the past century, mainly using morphological traits whereas more light have been brought to the group with the recent development of cytology and molecular phylogeny (Pryer et al 2001, Pryer et al 2004, Smith et al 2006, Smith et al 2008, Christenhusz et al 2011, Schuettpelz and Pryer 2007).As a large family of leptosporangiate ferns (about 10% of the Monilophytes), Pteridaceae undergone several taxonomic and nomenclatural updates (Gastony and Rollo 1995, Gastony and Rollo 1998, Sanchez-Baracaldo 2004, Zhang et al 2005, Kirkpatrick 2007, Prado et al 2007, Schuettpelz et al 2007, Windham et al 2009, Beck et al 2010, Hennequin et al 2010, Schneider et al 2013)
The current study aims at updating the Pteridaceae list and taxonomy in Togo
Some among them are unique to this area (Adiantum incisum, Doryopteris kirkii, Haplopteris guineensis var. guineensis, Pteris atrovirens, Pteris similis and Pteris tripartita)

Summary

Introduction

In the past century, mainly using morphological traits whereas more light have been brought to the group with the recent development of cytology and molecular phylogeny (Pryer et al 2001, Pryer et al 2004, Smith et al 2006, Smith et al 2008, Christenhusz et al 2011, Schuettpelz and Pryer 2007).As a large family of leptosporangiate ferns (about 10% of the Monilophytes), Pteridaceae undergone several taxonomic and nomenclatural updates (Gastony and Rollo 1995, Gastony and Rollo 1998, Sanchez-Baracaldo 2004, Zhang et al 2005, Kirkpatrick 2007, Prado et al 2007, Schuettpelz et al 2007, Windham et al 2009, Beck et al 2010, Hennequin et al 2010, Schneider et al 2013). In the past century, mainly using morphological traits whereas more light have been brought to the group with the recent development of cytology and molecular phylogeny (Pryer et al 2001, Pryer et al 2004, Smith et al 2006, Smith et al 2008, Christenhusz et al 2011, Schuettpelz and Pryer 2007). The current family diversity is about 1000 species distributed in 53 genera (Schuettpelz et al 2007, Christenhusz et al 2011). They are usually terrestrial, but sometimes aquatic, epilithic and epiphytic They abound in the humid tropics, the family includes several cosmopolitan species. They have a long or short rhizome, creeping, ascending, sub-erected or erected, and have splinters (more rarely hairs).

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Discussion

Conclusion