Pinna Margins Research Articles

Aspleniumguodanum (Aspleniaceae), a distinct new fern species from northern Guangdong, China, based on morphological data and molecular phylogeny.

A new spleenwort species, Aspleniumguodanum, was found and described from Danxia landform region in Guangdong, China. The new species has close resemblance to A.subcrenatum Ching ex S.H.Wu in morphology, but can be distinguished by having plants small, stipes and rachises not covered with fibrous scales, relatively fewer pairs of pinnae, pinnae short, pinna margin weakly biserrate, pinna apex acute and lower pinnae obviously reduced. Phylogenetic analyses, based on six plastid markers (atpB, rbcL, rps4 & rps4-trnS and trnL & trnL-F) of the new species and its relatives, support a close relationship between A.guodanum and A.subcrenatum. Only one population with no more than 50 individuals were found and, therefore, it is recommended to be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List Criteria.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Notes on Philippine Ferns. VI. Asplenium lepturus and A. contiguum (Polypodiales, Aspleniaceae), One or Two Species?

The present study clarifies the existing confusion between the Southeast Asian–Malesian Asplenium lepturus and the Hawaiian A. contiguum. The geographical range of both species is reported. Eleven (11) European and North American herbaria were visited by the author, and virtual collections of eight more herbaria were consulted. A morphological comparison of the size, shape, color, and dissection of the rhizome, scales, fronds, pinnae, apical segment, and sori was studied using light and dissecting microscopes. A. lepturus and A. contiguum are different species that can be distinguished by the size of the frond of fully developed plants, their different scales, the dentation of the pinna margin, the shape and length of the pinna apex, and sori position. A. lepturus is reported as a new Hawaiian species different from A. contiguum. A. lepturus is found in the Hawaiian Archipelago, south China, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, and Sulawesi. A. contiguum is endemic in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

The micro‐morphological characteristics of Cyrtomium Presl (Dryopteridaceae) from Shandong, China and their taxonomic significance

The fern genus Cyrtomium is generally recognized as a genus difficult to identify taxonomically. Here, the micro‐morphological characteristics of nine species and one cultivar of Cyrtomium from Shandong Province of China were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM): C. confertiserratum, C. falcatum, C. fortunei, C. polypterum, C. reflexosquamatum, C. semifertile, C. shandongensis, C. tukusicola, C. yamamotoi and C. yamamotoi var. intermedium. The morphology of the pinna margin, upper and lower epidermis, indusia, shape of pinnae, sori distribution and spore morphology were carefully examined and photographed under SEM. The results showed that the micro‐morphological characteristics of the pinna margin, upper and lower epidermis, indusia and spore morphology were stable within species and show significant differences between interspecies. The results provide not only important scientific evidence for the micro‐morphological classification and identification of Cyrtomium, but also an important scientific basis for the development and utilization of this genus for medicine use and the protection of germplasm resources.

Molecular, chromosomal, and morphological evidence reveals a new allotetraploid fern species of Asplenium (Aspleniaceae) from southern Jiangxi, China.

Aspleniumjiulianshanense, a new tetraploid fern species of the A.normale complex (Aspleniaceae) from Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, southern Jiangxi, China is described and illustrated. We inferred the phylogenetic position of the new species based on sequences from seven plastid markers (atpB, rbcL, rps4, rps4-trnS, trnL, trnL-F, and trnG) and one low-copy nuclear gene, pgiC. The plastid phylogeny supported a close relationship among the new species A.jiulianshanense, A.minutifolium, and A.kiangsuense, while the nuclear phylogeny differed in topology from the plastid tree. The new species may be due to hybridization between A.kiangsuense and A.boreale. Morphologically, the new species can easily be distinguished from other members of the A.normale complex by rachises bearing a gemma near the apex, pinna margins entire to sparsely crenate, and (1‒)3‒4(‒6) sori per pinna.

Polystichum jinpingense (subg. Haplopolystichum; Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from southeastern Yunnan, China

A new fern species, Polystichum jinpingense, a member of P. subg. Haplopolystichum sect. Haplopolystichum, is described and illustrated from southeastern Yunnan, China. Polystichum jinpingense is most similar to P. subacutidens in plant size and having numerous pinnae, but the former has thinner (0.7–0.9 mm in diam.) rachis, oblong pinnae, pinna margins undulate, and pinna apex cuspidate, whereas the latter has thicker (1.1–1.4 mm in diam.) rachis, triangular pinnae, pinna margins serrate, and pinna apex acuminate. Polystichum jinpingense has an extremely narrow distribution and is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List Criteria.

Athyrium aberrans (Athyriaceae), a new species of the lady ferns from southeastern Xizang, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence

A new fern species, Athyrium aberrans (Athyriaceae), currently only known from southeastern Xizang, China is described. Morphologically, A. aberrans is superficially similar to A. falcatum in the habit and pinna shape, but the new species can easily be distinguished from the latter by having purplish petioles and rachises, a bulbil on the rachis below the lamina apex, and finely toothed pinna margins. A phylogenetic analysis based on five plastid markers demonstrates that A. aberrans is most closely related to but obviously distinct from A. epirachis.

Arsenic accumulation and distribution in Pteris vittata fronds of different maturity: Impacts of soil As concentrations

Arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata is efficient in As uptake, translocation and accumulation, but the impacts of soil As concentrations on As accumulation and distribution in P. vittata are still unclear. The impacts of soil As (7.3, 63 and 228 mg kg−1) on plant growth and As accumulation in P. vittata after 6 months of growth were evaluated. Arsenic concentrations in the roots, midribs and pinna margin of P. vittata fronds of different maturity were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). While moderate As level at As63 didn’t impact P. vittata growth, higher As at As228 decreased plant biomass by 38%. Under As stress, more As was accumulated in the senescing fronds (47%) and mature fronds (11%) than the young fronds. In senescing fronds, As concentrations in pinna margin were 2.3 times that of the midribs, consistent with As-induced necrotic symptom. Arsenic distribution based on SEM-EDS analysis revealed good correlation between Si and As in the pinnae (r = 0.49). Our data showed that As accumulation in pinna margin caused necrosis and Si may have a potential role in As detoxification in P. vittata.

Polystichum alluvium (subg. Haplopolystichum; Dryopteridaceae), a new cave species from Guizhou, China, with reference to new distribution records of P. leveillei

A new fern species, Polystichum alluvium, a member of P. subg. Haplopolystichum (Dryopteridaceae), is described from Guizhou Province in Southwest China. Polystichum alluvium is similar to P. lanceolatum in having small habit and subcoriaceous pinnae, but the former has oblanceolate laminae with basal pinnae strongly contracted toward lamina base, deltoid-ovate and sessile pinnae, and very short spinules on acroscopic pinna margins or no spinules, while the latter has lanceolate laminae with basal pinnae not contracted toward lamina base, oblong and petiolate pinnae, and long spinules on acroscopic pinna margins. Polystichum alluvium was found from the alluvial bottom of a karst cave at an elevation of 1410 m with humid and shady conditions and is currently known from one population with ca. 50 plants in western Guizhou. It is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List criteria. We also expanded the distribution of P. leveillei to southern-central Guizhou based on our new collections.

Polystichum luteoviride (subg. Haplopolystichum; Dryopteridaceae), a new, highly endangered cave species from Guizhou, China

One new fern species, Polystichum luteoviride, a member of P. subg. Haplopolystichum (Dryopteridaceae), is described and illustrated from Guizhou Province in Southwest China. Polystichum luteoviride is similar to P. deflexum Ching ex W.M.Chu (1992: 47) in having crenate pinna margins, but the former has lamina yellowish green and pinnae oblong, strongly reflexed, and acute to obtuse at apex, while the latter has laminae green and pinnae lanceolate, slightly reflexed or even angled acroscopically, and acuminate at apex. Polystichum luteoviride was found inside a karst cave at an elevation of 1200 m with humid and shady conditions and is currently known from one population in Ziyun County, southern Guizhou, and is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List criteria.

The first megafossil record of Goniophlebium (Polypodiaceae) from the Middle Miocene of Asia and its paleoecological implications

The first megafossil record of Goniophlebium macrosorum Xu et Zhou n. sp., is described from the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO) (15.2–16.5Ma) sediments in Wenshan, southeastern Yunnan, China. The fossils are with well-preserved leaf pinnae and in situ spores, and are represented by pinnatifid fronds and crenate pinna margins, with oval sori almost covering 3/5 area of areolae on each side of the main costa. In situ spores have verrucate outer ornamentation, and are elliptical in polar view and bean-shaped in equatorial view. The venation is characterized by anastomosing veins with simple included veinlets forming 2–3 order pentagonal areolae. All these morphological characters confirm the assignment of this species to the genus Goniophlebium (Polypodiaceae), now is distributed in southeastern Asia to Australia. Among living species, G. macrosorum shows the closest morphological affinity to the extant Goniophlebium subamoenum. The discovery of G. macrosorum suggests that Goniophlebium occurred in this region no later than the Middle Miocene. Moreover, the result of this study is consistent with the paleoenvironment of Wenshan flora as reconstructed in previous research, which concluded that modern evergreen broadleaved forests with complex ecological structure have been possibly established in southwestern China since at least 15Ma.

Revision of series Gravesiana (Adiantum L.) based on morphological characteristics, spores and phylogenetic analyses.

Since the adoption of some ambiguous and quantitative characters in Flora Republicae Popularis Sinicae 3(1), species identifications of the series Gravesiana have been in disarray, requiring clarification. Two hundred and fifty-nine individuals from 47 different populations were collected for the estimation of morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses. Spores of 26 populations were observed through scanning electron microscope. Our results were different from those of previous research: (1) six identifiable species, rather than five species observed previously, were confirmed in the series Gravesiana, they are A. gravesii, A. juxtapositum, A. mariesii, A. dentatum, A. longzhouensis and A. obovatum, of which the latter three are newly recognized species. (2) Thirteen characters were measured and estimated through the program Mesquite v. 2.71. The character whether the pinna stalks were 1/3-1/2 times longer than the pinna was used to distinguish A. gravesii and A. lianxianense previously and was found to be unreliable here, whereas such characters as the height of the plant (H), pinna aligned forms (FP), number of pinna (NP), pinna margin (M), number of veins flabellate at base (NV), sori number and shape per pinna (NSS), pinna texture (T), and powder-covered or not on the abaxial surface of the pinna (P) are estimated to be stable and reliable characters useful for identification. Descriptions of new species and their retrieve keys are also listed. (3) Surface ornamentations and spore sizes are helpful for us to distinguish species in series Gravesiana.

Polystichum quangbinhense sp. nov. (subg. Haplopolystichum; Dryopteridaceae), the southernmost cave species of Polystichum from central Vietnam

A new fern species, Polystichum quangbinhense, a member of P. subg. Haplopolystichum (Dryopteridaceae), is described and illustrated from Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam. It is the southernmost cave species of the genus discovered so far. Polystichum quangbinhense is most similar to P. obliquum in having oblong pinnae, but the two can be distinguished from each other by the morphology of pinna margins. Polystichum quangbinhense was found inside a karst cave at an elevation of 120 m with humid and shady conditions and is currently known from two populations occurring at two sides of the Doi Cave (So Dua Cave), Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam, and is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List criteria.

Metaxya lanosa, a Second Species in the Genus and Fern Family Metaxyaceae

We describe and illustrate Metaxya lanosa, the second known species in the genus and the fern family Metaxyaceae (Pteridophyta). It is currently known from four different watersheds in Amazonian Peru and Venezuela. It can be distinguished readily from M. rostrata by the noticeably woolly-hairy stipes and rachises (hairs red-brown or orange-brown and easily abraded), broader, more elliptic pinnae, cartilag- inous and whitish pinna margins, more distinct veins abaxially, and longer pinna stalks, especially on the distal pinnae. rbcL data from a very limited sampling are ambiguous but do not reject support for the recognition of at least two species within Metaxya.

Revisión del género Danaea (Marattiaceae - Pteridophyta)

This is a revision of Danaea , the only neotropical genus of the Marattiaceae. Several collections were analized, and both external and internal detailed morphology of the sporophyte was studied. Taxonomy of the species, a key to identify them, comments on their affinities, geographical distribution, altitudinal range, cytology and ecology are also given. Seventeen species of the genus are recognized: D. alata, D. carillensis, D. crispa, D. elliptica, D. humilis, D. imbricata, D. jenmanii, D. mazeana, D. moritziana, D. nodosa, D. oblanceolata, D. plicata, D. simplicifolia, D. tenera, D. trichomanoides, D. ulei and D. wendlandii . Danaea shares several characters with the other four marattiaceous genera ( Angiopteris, Archangiopteris, Christensenia and Marattia ), as naked, carnose polycyclostelic amylaceous rhizomes with internal collenchymatous tissues, excentric simple starch grains, geminate stipules, pulvinules, types of epidermal patterns of the laminae, marattiaceous stomata, presence of intercellular pectic protuberances in the mesophyll cells (IPP), and mucilage secreting system. However, postrate and erect rhizomes; number of pulvinules in the stipes; simple or 1-pinnate, dimorphic laminae; pinna outline; entire, undulate or crispate pinna margins; glandular indument (both mucilaginiferous trichomes and protoscales); lamina texture; venation patterns; epidermal patterns of the epiphylls and hypophylls which vary at the specific level; both normal and porocyclocytic marattiaceous stomata; mostly filamentose IPP, and the morphology of the exopore in echinate spores are considered good diagnostic characters related to Danaea . Division of the lamina, indument, lamina and pinna outline, number of pinnae, type of pinna margin, lamina texture, venation patterns, presence or absence of terminal pinnae or gemae, and color of veins and the hypophylls are good morphological characteres to identify the species both in fresh and dry specimens, and they were used to prepare the key to identify the species, along with other traits such as rhizome types, which can be additionally useful to complete plant identifications in the field.

Novelties in the fern genusPolystichum (Dryopteridaceae)I. Three new taxa for Cuba

Abstract Morejon Hernandez R. & Sanchez C.: Novelties in the fern genus Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae) I. Three new taxa for Cuba [Novitiae florae cubensis 39]. — Willdenowia 42: 273–281. December 2012. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2012 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. Stable URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.42.42213 A recent study of about 2500 specimens from 23 herbaria globally complemented a taxonomic study of Cuban species of the genus Polystichum that has been carried out since 2000. Three new taxa of Cuban Polystichum are described: P. decoratum subsp. habanense, P. guajaibonense and P. sanchezii. The differences to allied species are discussed for each taxon. P. decoratum subsp. habanense, endemic to western Cuba, can be distinguished from the nominal subspecies, endemic to eastern Cuba, by the leaf morphology, the presence of a basiscopic auricle on the basal pinnae, pinna margin and position of the sori. P. guajaibonense is endemic to western Cuba and, based on the proliferous flagelliform apex, can be confuse...

Polystichum normale(Dryopteridaceae), a New Species in SectionCrucifilixfrom Guizhou, China

A new fern species, Polystichum normale Ching ex P. S. Wang & Li Bing Zhang (Dryopteridaceae), is described from Guizhou and illustrated for section Crucifilix Tagawa. Distributed in southern Chongqing, northeastern and southeastern Guizhou, and northwestern Hunan, China, the new species is morphologically similar to P. tripteron (Kunze) C. Presl and P. hancockii (Hance) Diels. Polystichum normale has toothed and oblong or almost rectangular pinnae with an acute apex. In contrast, P. tripteron has coarsely serrate and falcate-lanceolate pinnae with an acuminate apex. While P. normale has sori close to the pinna margins, indusia 0.6-0.8 mm in diameter, and a perispore with an irregularly perforate sculpture, P. hancockii has sori closer to the costa, indusia 0.3-0.4 mm in diameter, and a perispore with reticulate sculpture. It is considered Vulnerable (VU), based on IUCN Red List criteria.

Adiantum camptorachis (Pteridaceae), a New Species from South America with Notes on the Taxonomy of Related Species from the Southern Cone and Bolivia

Abstract We describe Adiantum camptorachis from the Tucumano-Boliviano forests of southern Bolivia and northwestern and central Argentina. This species was previously confused with A. glanduliferum, which is found on the Pacific side of Andes from southern Peru to central Chile. Adiantum camptorachis differs by having rhizome scales with distally ciliate margins, erose pinna margins, and by having a flexuous rachis. We also provide a detailed description for A. rufopunctatum, which had previously been treated as a synonym of A. raddianum by several authors. A key to similar South American species is presented. It includes all species with decompound non-conform laminae and orbicular to reniform or lunate sori in the Southern Cone, including Argentina Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Serpocaulon (Polypodiaceae), a new genus segregated from Polypodium

We describe the neotropical fern genus Serpocaulon (Polypodiaceae), segregated from Polypodium, and make new combinations for the forty known species. Serpocaulon has been recognized previously as a putatively natural group by several authors, based on morphological evidence, but never accorded generic rank. The monophyly of Serpocaulon is strongly supported in chloroplast DNA‐based phylogenetic analyses, using the genes rbcL, rps4, rps4‐trnS intergenic spacer, and trnL‐F intergenic spacer on 29 samples from 22 species. Serpocaulon is readily separated from other subclades within Polypodiaceae, and especially from Polypodium, which is less closely related to Serpocaulon than are several other genera. Serpocaulon differs from other New World polypods in the combination of usually long‐creeping, sparingly branched rhizomes with clathrate (sometimes strongly so), usually peltately attached scales; regularly anastomosing (goniophlebioid) veins with individual areoles chevron‐shaped and each with a single, free, included excurrent veinlet; and non‐paraphysate sori in one to 10 rows between costae and pinna margins. In Polypodium, the rhizome scales are not clathrate, ± concolorous, and invaginated at the base, with somewhat overlapping basal lobes, and rhizomes are generally shorter‐creeping and more frequently branched, the veins are free or forming a single row of areoles, and the sori uniseriate on each side of the costae. Most species of true Polypodium are north‐temperate, Mexican, or Mesoamerican in distribution, while Serpocaulon is entirely neotropical or subtropical, with the greatest number of species in South America. There appears to be no convenient infrageneric division of the species within Serpocaulon, although the most widespread species, S. triseriale, is somewhat isolated at the base of the clade. Species with the thinnest rhizomes also have the fewest scales, and generally grow at high elevations. Species having the scaliest rhizomes, with scales spreading and strongly overlapping, form a weakly supported subclade, as do species with multiseriate rows of areoles between costae and pinna margins.

Fertile organs and in situ spores of Marattia asiatica (Kawasaki) Harris (Marattiales) from the Lower Jurassic Hsiangchi Formation in Hubei, China

The fertile organs and in situ spores of Marattia asiatica (Kawasaki) Harris from the Lower Jurassic Hsiangchi Formation in Zigui, Hubei Province, China, are studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The emended diagnosis is given based on studies on the variation of gross morphology and the internal structures of synangia and in situ spores. Morphologically, this Asiatic species is distinguished from other European ones mainly in the more crowded veins and longer synangia. The linear synangia of M. asiatica are bivalved and attached on the secondary veins at the pinna margin. A synangium is composed of two long strips of laterally joined and triangular sporangia. Each sporangium contains a large number of monolete spores with granular exine and a small size (average 25 μm), resembling the dispersed genus Marattisporites. Geographically, M. asiatica is recorded between 22 and 42°N in East Asia and Middle East. The species is distributed in the Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic of China in both the southern and northern phytoprovinces. Extant Marattia seems to have evolved via reduction of pinna form, venation and especially synangia from some of the Mesozoic and Paleozoic members.