Vinícius Antonio de Oliveira Dittrich

A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns

Phylogeny has long informed pteridophyte classification. As our ability to infer evolutionary trees has improved, classifications aimed at recognizing natural groups have become increasingly predictive and stable. Here, we provide a modern, comprehensive classification for lycophytes and ferns, down to the genus level, utilizing a community‐based approach. We use monophyly as the primary criterion for the recognition of taxa, but also aim to preserve existing taxa and circumscriptions that are both widely accepted and consistent with our understanding of pteridophyte phylogeny. In total, this classification treats an estimated 11 916 species in 337 genera, 51 families, 14 orders, and two classes. This classification is not intended as the final word on lycophyte and fern taxonomy, but rather a summary statement of current hypotheses, derived from the best available data and shaped by those most familiar with the plants in question. We hope that it will serve as a resource for those wanting references to the recent literature on pteridophyte phylogeny and classification, a framework for guiding future investigations, and a stimulus to further discourse.

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).

Composição, diversidade e distribuição geográfica de plantas vasculares de uma Floresta Ombrófila Densa Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil

In the Montane and Submontane Rain Forest of the Carlos Botelho State Park - PECB (ca. 37,000 ha) the composition, richness and geographical distribution of native, vascular forest species was evaluated. The analysis of 1143 species of 140 families supported the pattern found for other forests of Eastern Brazil, showing high species richness of Myrtaceae (85 species), Orchidaceae (81), Fabaceae (57), Asteraceae, Melastomataceae (54), Lauraceae (53), Rubiaceae (51), Bromeliaceae (43), Piperaceae (30) and Solanaceae (25), besides ferns (123). The most species-rich genera were Eugenia (34), Ocotea (26), Leandra, Myrcia, Vriesea (18), Piper, Solanum (16), Miconia (14), Mollinedia (13), and Peperomia (12). The richness and composition varied greatly among life forms, as well as the number of families represented in each one of them (only Rubiaceae had species in all life forms, except parasites). Trees had the largest contribution of total richness (39.1%), a value that represented more than 20% of the species listed for the whole Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. Trees were followed by epiphytes (22.4%), herbs (18.4%), shrubs (10.1%), lianas (9.1%), and parasites (0.9%). The overall richness and composition of life forms was quite close to other neotropical forests (e.g. high contribution of ferns among epiphytes), although some life forms remain undersampled in the PECB (mainly herbs, lianas and epiphytes). The occurrence of species endemic to the Atlantic Forest was pronounced (65%), with a predominance of species restricted to the Southern Atlantic Forest (43%). Pantropical species were rare (2%), being more common among ferns. Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae were the families with greater number and proportion of endemic species.

Flora vascular do Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, São Paulo, Brasil

Located in the Serra de Paranapiacaba, South of Sao Paulo State, the Carlos Botelho State Park (PECB) shelters more than 37,000 ha of Atlantic Forest in one of the most important and large remnants of this Biome in Brazil. In the Park the Montane and Submontane rain forests are the predominant types of forests. Aiming to organize the available floristic information and to orient future surveys, this study presents the list of native vascular species of the PECB forests. Besides authors´ personal collections, more than 3,900 records since 1967 were compiled. Coming from different sources of information, these records were checked for the presence of botanical synonyms and new combinations. A total of 1,143 species belonging to 528 genera and 140 families were listed (other 63 species were not included because they were non-native or of doubtful occurrence/determination). There was a great richness of Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Melastomataceae, Lauraceae, Rubiaceae and Bromeliaceae. Although high species richness was found, the richness of herbs, lianas and epiphytes are certainly underestimated and future surveys will add many species to the list presented here. In addition, more than 60 endangered species were found, mainly among the Myrtaceae, Lauraceae and Gesneriaceae families. Therefore, these results put the PECB among the most species-rich conservation units of Sao Paulo state with great relevance to national conservancy of plant diversity.

Two New Species of the Fern Genus Blechnum with Partially Anastomosing Veins from Northern Brazil

Abstract Two new species of Blechnum from Para State, northern Brazil, are described along with a diagnostic key and illustrations: Blechnum areolatum and B. longipilosum (Blechnaceae). Blechnum areolatum can be distinguished by: partially anastomosing veins, one or two pairs of pinnae and one- to two-celled hairs present only on the abaxial side of leaf blade. Blechnum longipilosum is characterized by: partially anastomosing veins, one to three pairs of reduced proximal pinnae and long hairs on rachises, costae, veins, laminar tissue, and indusia between sporangia. Both plants belong to the B. occidentale L. complex. Blechnum areolatum is similar to some specimens of B. lanceola Sw. with one pair of pinnae, but the veins in the latter species are completely free. Blechnum longipilosum has no known close relatives. The only Neotropical species so far known with partially anastomosing veins is B. heringeri Brade, which has erect rhizomes (vs. short creeping in B. longipilosum) and short, two- to three-celled hairs on leaf blades, which are deltoid and truncate at base. A key to the Neotropical species of Blechnum with partially anastomosing veins is provided.

Molecular phylogeny of the fern family Blechnaceae (Polypodiales) with a revised genus‐level treatment

Blechnaceae, a leptosporangiate fern family nested within eupolypods II, comprises 200–250 species, typically divided among seven to nine genera. Despite recent molecular studies of the family, it still lacks a modern taxonomic update based on broad sampling from the two centres of diversity—the Neotropics and Australasia/Oceania. To test generic circumscriptions, we have assembled the broadest dataset thus far, from three plastid regions (rbcL, rps4‐trnS, trnL‐trnF) and with taxonomic sampling focused on both major diversity centres. Our sampling includes 156 taxa and 178 newly generated sequences. We recognize three subfamilies, each corresponding to a highly supported clade across all analyses (maximum parsimony, Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood). The genera Salpichlaena, Stenochlaena and Telmatoblechnum are monophyletic, while Blechnum is polyphyletic, because Brainea, Doodia and Sadleria all nest within it. We outline and explain a plan to resolve the polyphyly of Blechnum by recognizing additional, monophyletic, segregate genera.

A New Species of Thelypteris subgenus Amauropelta (Thelypteridaceae) from Southeastern Brazil

Abstract Thelypteris soridepressa, known only from the type collection, is described and illustrated. The species belongs to subg. Amauropelta sect. Apelta A.R. Sm. It is superficially similar to Thelypteris micula from Peru in its small, very thin-textured leaves and short trichomes on the adaxial surface of the veins, but can be distinguished by the lack of resinous dots and indusia, as well as by its sunken sori. It has no close relatives in Brazil.

Samambaias e licófitas do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil: Blechnaceae

work aims to continue the series of monographs of the families of ferns and lycophytes in the state of Pernambuco, and is concerned with the family Blechnaceae. Five species in two genera are recorded for Pernambuco (Blechnum brasiliense, B. occidentale, B. polypodioides, B. serrulatum, and Salpichlaena volubilis). Blechnum polypodioides is recorded for the first time to the state. Identification keys, descriptions and illustrations are provided, as well as taxonomic remarks and comments about geographic distribution of the species.