John T. Mickel

Diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Brazil

This compilation of ferns and lycophytes in Brazil is an update of the one published in 2010 in Catalogo de Plantas e Fungos do Brasil. The methodology consisted in collecting data from regional checklists, taxonomic revisions, and selected databases. Invited specialists improved the list accessing a website housed at the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. The results show 1,253 species: 1,111 of ferns and 142 of lycophytes. This number is 6.5% higher than the previous one (1,176 spp.). The percentage of endemic species decreased from 38.2% to 36.7%. We recognized 36 families and 133 genera (vs. 33 families, 121 genera in 2010). The 10 most diverse families are Pteridaceae (196 spp.), Dryopteridaceae (179), Polypodiaceae (164), Hymenophyllaceae (90), Thelypteridaceae (86), Aspleniaceae (78), Lycopodiaceae (64), Selaginellaceae (55), Anemiaceae (51), and Cyatheaceae (45). The three most diverse genera are still Elaphoglossum (87 spp.), Thelypteris (85), and Asplenium (74). The richest phytogeographic domain continues to be in the Atlantic Rainforest with 883 species which also has the largest number of endemic and threatened species, followed by the Amazon Rainforest (503), Cerrado (269), Pantanal (30), Caatinga (26), and Pampa (eight). Minas Gerais remains as the richest state (657 spp. vs. 580 in 2010).

Molecular Studies of Representative Species in the Fern Genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae) Based on cpDNA Sequences rbcL, trnL‐F, and rps4‐trnS

Phylogenetic relationships among 48 species representing the nine sections within the fern genus Elaphoglossum were investigated using cpDNA sequence data from rbcL, trnL‐F, and rps4‐trnS. Elaphoglossum is shown to be a well‐supported, monophyletic genus containing five major clades. Mapping of morphological characters onto the molecular phylogeny reveals how scale structure, rhizome morphology, presence/absence of hydathodes and/or phyllopodia, and general growth form are important synapomorphies for sectional and subsectional classification in Elaphoglossum. The first major clade is formed by species with subulate scales and/or hydathodes. Within this clade, a monophyletic group is formed by those species possessing hydathodes, and another monophyletic group is formed by species lacking hydathodes. The second major clade is formed by species that generally have conspicuously scaly blades. The third major clade is characterized by slender, long‐creeping, two‐ranked rhizomes, small leaves (generally less than 20 cm long), and echinulate spores. The fourth clade has phyllopodia and inconspicuously scaly or glabrous blades but is separated in two subgroups, one consisting of small plants with short‐ to long‐creeping rhizomes and another of relatively larger plants with thicker, more congested rhizomes. The fifth clade consists solely of Elaphoglossum amygdalifolium, which differs from all other members of the genus by the combination of long‐creeping rhizomes, hydathodes, phyllopodia, and reddish young leaves. Hydathodes have evolved independently more than once in Elaphoglossum.

Chromosome counts for Mexican ferns

Chromosome numbers for 106 species in 36 genera of Mexican ferns are reported. Of these, 47 are first reports for the species. Ten additional counts differ from previous reports. These counts suggest taxa where additional sampling might aid in making taxonomic decisions.

Additional Support for Two Subgenera of Anemia (Schizaeaceae) from Data for the Chloroplast Intergenic Spacer Region trnL-F and Morphology

Abstract An analysis of morphological data for 13 species with 33 characters and molecular data for 14 species from the chloroplast DNA intergenic spacer region trnL-F indicates that species of the genus Anemia fall into two well-supported subgenera, Anemiorrhiza and Anemia. In addition, one species of the genus Mohria appears to belong within Anemia. Although further study is required, these data support the relationships suggested by a previous study of fossil and extant representatives of the genus.

Petiolar Shoots in the Dennstaedtioid and Related Ferns

Stelar branching patterns and bud formation in the Filicales have been investigated little since the beginning of this century. Fern stems may branch by dichotomy, axillary buds, or buds not clearly in the axils of leaves. Buds from frond bases were reported and described by Gwynne-Vaughan (1903) for a number of ferns. In a monographic work on Dennstaedtia punctilobula (\ichx.) Moore, Conard (1908) described in detail the anatomy of shoots from the petiole bases of this fern. Webster (1958) observed dormant buds on the leaf bases in Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, but none were seen to elongate. Further references to budding of ferns are scattered, and the phenomenon is mentioned only briefly, as in Wardlaw (1952) and Wagner (1963), for Matteuccia, Onoclea and Dryopteris. None of these workers has attributed any phylogenetic or taxonomic importance to the phenomenon, and, in view of the meager information available, it is appropriate that more comprehensive studies be undertaken. In the summer of 1967 we participated in a course in the biology of tropical pteridophytes offered by the Organization for

RELATIONSHIPS OF THE DISSECTED ELAPHOGLOSSOID FERNS

The pedately dividedElaphoglossum cardenasii and the two small genera,Peltapteris andMicrostaphyla, are found to have close relatives among the entire-bladed species ofElaphoglossum, supporting the view that all the dissected forms should be considered as species ofElaphoglossum. Necessary nomenclatural changes are made.

Revision of anemia subgenus anemiorrhiza schizaeaceae

This distinctive subgenus, limited to calcareous rocks of the Caribbean basin, is discussed in terms of its taxonomy and relationships. Two new species,A. alternifolia andA. pumilio are described, and two new combinations,A. mexicana var.makrinii andA. coriacea f. nipeensis are made. Drawings of all taxa are provided.

SYSTEMATIC IMPLICATIONS OF FLAVONOID PIGMENTS IN THE FERN GENUS HEMIONITIS (ADIANTIACEAE)

The closely related fern generaHemionitis L. andGymnopteris Bernhardi are separated primarily on differences in leaf architecture and venation. Studies indicate that these characters are highly variable and unreliably diagnostic. Further, the type species of the two genera readily hybridize with each other. Spore morphology, as exhibited by SEM, does not support the traditional alignment of the species in these two genera: some species ofHemionitis andGymnopteris have the same rugose to papillate spores, while other species from both genera possess crested spores. The flavonoid chemistry of these taxa coincides with spore type, i.e., taxa from both genera which possess crested spores produce kaempferol and quercetin 3-0-glycosides, while species with tuberculate spores produce only quercetin 3,4′-0-glycosides. The spore and chemical data suggest a realignment of these taxa within a single genus, which would avoid the rather tenuous dependence on a single vegetative character for generic distinctions.

The genus anemia (Schizaeaceae) in Mexico

The fern genusAnemia is represented in Mexico by 21 species and hybrids, of which five are here described as new:A. familiaris, A. multiplex. A. ×paraphyllitidis. A.×recondita andA. semihirsuta. Hybridization is frequent, resulting in both sterile and fertile hybrids, and has probably led to much recent speciation in the genus, including presumably sexual polyploids up to possibly the tetrakaidecaploid level.

Nineteen new species of Elaphoglossum (Elaphoglossaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia

We describe and illustrate 19 new species ofElaphoglossum from Bolivia:E. ayopayaense, E. carrascoense, E. choquetangae, E. cotapatense, E. crispipalea, E. cruzense, E. elkeae, E. ellenbergianum, E. gonzalesiae, E. inquisitivum, E. madidiense, E. murinum, E. neei, E. palmarum, E. pannosum, E. paucinervium, E. puberulentum, E. pulchrum, andE. sunduei.