[Botany • 2019] A Revision of the Hymenasplenium unilaterale subclade (Aspleniaceae; Pteridophyta) with the Description of Nine New Species

Hymenasplenium unilaterale 

in Xu, Lorence, Wood, Liao & Zhang, 2019. 

 DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.419.1.1

Abstract

A taxonomic study of the Hymenasplenium unilaterale subclade (Aspleniaceae) is presented based on morphological and molecular evidence. Twelve species are recognized, nine of which are described as new. The nine new species include H. kinabaluense, H. solomonense, H. madagascariense, H. nigricostatum, H. neocaledonicum, H. oligosorum, H. queenslandicum, H. samoaense, and H. vanuatuense. Of the 12 species recognized, one occurs in Malaysia, East Africa, and Reunion, one in southern Vietnam, and the rest restricted to 1–2 islands of the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. These new species have been erroneously treated as H. unilaterale by earlier pteridologists. All species were included in a recent phylogenetic analysis and supported as distinct lineages based on molecular data. A key to the species and information on their distributions, habitats, and major distinguishing characters are provided.

Keywords: Cryptic speciation, Indian Ocean islands, Pacific islands, Pteridophytes

  Ke-Wang Xu, David Lorence, Kenneth R. Wood, Wen-Bo Liao and Li-Bing Zhang. 2019. A Revision of the Hymenasplenium unilaterale subclade (Aspleniaceae; Pteridophyta) with the Description of Nine New Species. Phytotaxa. 419(1); 1–27.  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.419.1.1

[Botany • 2018] Asplenium serratifolium (Aspleniaceae) • A New Fern Species from Central Vietnam Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence

Asplenium serratifolium Li Bing Zhang & K.W. Xu

in Xu, Zhang, Lu & Zhang, 2018. 

DOI: 10.1640/0002-8444-108.3.65

Abstract

Asplenium serratifolium (Aspleniaceae), a new fern species from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by plants 10–18 cm tall, laminae pinnatipartite, lobe margins entire or with shallow teeth, and veins simple or forked. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on five plastid markers (atpB, rbcL, rps4, rps4-trnS, and trnL-F) indicate that the new species is closely related to A. ensiforme.

Asplenium serratifolium sp. nov. C. Plant. D. Abaxial lamina. E. Sulcatestipe, adaxial view. F. Stipe scales. G. Adaxial lamina showing the sulcate midrib. H. Portion ofabaxial lamina; red arrow shows the obscure, forked veins.

Asplenium serratifolium Li Bing Zhang & K.W. Xu, sp. nov.

Etymology.— Based on the Latin prefix, serrati-, serrate, and the Latin suffix, -folium, leaf, referring to the saw-toothed laminae of the new species.

Asplenium serratifolium sp. nov. A and B. Habit. C. Plant. D. Abaxial lamina. E. Sulcatestipe, adaxial view. F. Stipe scales. G. Adaxial lamina showing the sulcate midrib. H. Portion ofabaxial lamina; red arrow shows the obscure, forked veins.

Asplenium serratifolium sp. nov. A and B. Habit. 

Ke-Wang Xu, Liang Zhang, Ngan Thi Lu, and Li-Bing Zhang. 2018. Asplenium serratifolium (Aspleniaceae), A New Fern Species from Central Vietnam Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence. American Fern Journal. 108(3); 65-75.  DOI: 10.1640/0002-8444-108.3.65

researchgate.net/publication/328702330_Asplenium_serratifolium_a_New_Fern_Species_from_Central_Vietnam

[Botany • 2018] Nine New Species of Hymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) from Asia

Hymenasplenium phamhoanghoi 

in Xu, Zhang, Lu, et al., 2018. 

  DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.358.1.1

Abstract

Nine new species of Hymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) from Asia are here described based on both morphology and our recent molecular phylogenetics of the genus. Of the nine new species, H. chingii, H. denticulatum, H. sinense, H. speluncicola, and H. wangpeishanii are from southern China, whereas H. distans, H. ngheanense, H. phamhoanghoi, and H. quangnamense are from Vietnam. These new species are morphologically similar to but distinguishable from those of the H. unilaterale s.l. group (H. apogamum, H. hondoense, and H. murakami-hatanakae). All except one new species were included in a recent phylogenetic analysis and were well supported as distinct lineages based on molecular data. All new species are illustrated and the information on their distributions, habitats, and major distinguishing characters is provided.

Keywords: Guangxi, Guizhou, limestone caves, Vietnam, Yunnan

Ke-Wang Xu, Liang Zhang, Ngan Thi Lu, Xin-Mao Zhou, Hai He, Thien Tam Luong, Ralf Knapp, Wen-Bo Liao and Li-Bing Zhang. 2018. Nine New Species of Hymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) from Asia. Phytotaxa. 358(1); 1–25. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.358.1.1

[Botany • 2017] Asplenium merapohense (Aspleniaceae) • A New Species from the Peninsular Malaysia

Asplenium merapohense

R. Jaman & K. Imin 

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.89.20875 

Abstract

A new species of Asplenium is described from two collections made on limestone hills in Peninsular Malaysia. Conspicuous by its extremely narrow pinnae, it is probably allied to A. salignum but differs in sufficient characters (scale size, size and shape of lamina, venation and sorus length, position and orientation) to be a species in its own right.

Keywords: Asplenium, limestone, flora, morphology, taxonomy

Figure 2. Asplenium merapohense  R.Jaman & K.Imin, sp. nov.
 A Gunung Gajah B habitat – in crevices on a shaded, mossy limestone vertical cliff C Undersurface of a pinna with sori showing indusia.

 (Photographs by A P.T. Ong, B, C K. Imin).

Asplenium merapohense R. Jaman & K. Imin, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Similar to Asplenium salignum in its short creeping rhizome, tuft of simple or once pinnate fronds dentate with rounded marginal teeth but A. merapohense is distinct in its shorter, much narrower pinnae 3.4–7.1 × 0.2–0.3(–0.45) cm (vs. 6–27 × 0.9–3.7 cm) and shorter sori, which are 2–6 mm long and lie parallel to the midrib (vs. sori 4–13 mm long angled at 45° to the midrib).

Distribution: Endemic in Peninsular Malaysia, from Pahang, Merapoh (Gua Gajah) and Kelantan, Gua Musang District (Gua Panjang).

Etymology: It takes its name from the type locality.

Ecology: Restricted to karst limestone hills where it grows on steep rock faces in sheltered conditions at 180–348 m altitude. It is a rare and very local species (Figure 2).

 Razali Jaman, Imin Kamin and Ruth Kiew. 2017. Asplenium merapohense (Aspleniaceae), A New Species from the Peninsular Malaysia. PhytoKeys. 89; 85-90.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.89.20875

[Botany • 2017] Asplenium minutifolium (Aspleniaceae) • A New Species from Thailand

Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane

 DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2017.45.1.06 

ABSTRACT 

A new species of Asplenium (Aspleniaceae), Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane, from Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei Province, Northeast Thailand and Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Nayok Province, Central Thailand, is described and illustrated. This species can be distinguished from all similar species in East and South-East Asia by its simple and small lamina (1–5 × 0.3–0.7 cm), small and entire pinnae (1–4 × 0.8–2.5 mm), reflexed pinna arrangement (>90° from the midrib) in the lower 2/3 of the lamina and a sori arrangement that is almost always arranged in a single row on the basiscopic vein. 

KEYWORDS: Asplenium, Aspleniaceae, Pteridophyte, Fern, new species, Phu Kradueng National Park, Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

Figure 2. Asplenium minutifolium  Kanem. & Tagane, sp. nov.
 A. habit; B. portion of lamina (undersurface) showing sori; C. rhizome with scales; D. habitat.

Asplenium minutifolium Kanem. & Tagane, sp. nov. 

Similar to Asplenium kiangsuense Ching & Y.X.Jing of southern China in size and shape of lamina, but differs in having a narrower lamina (ca 0.7 cm wide in A. minutifolium vs. ca 1 cm wide in A. kiangsuense), wingless rachis (vs. 2 slightly raised lateral wings), smaller pinnae (1–4 × 0.8–2.5 mm vs. 4–5 × 4–5 mm), generally fewer sori per pinna (1– 3(–4) vs. 3–5), and in the sori arrangement (usually arranged in a row vs. arranged oppositely). Also similar to Asplenium siamense Tagawa & K.Iwats. of North-East Thailand, but can be distinguished by its simple pinnae at the tip of lamina (vs. lamina forked several times at the tip), thicker pinnae (thickly papery vs. thinly papery), reflexed pinna arrangement in lower part (vs. divaricate around lamina), and pinnae with entire or slightly undulate margins (vs. shallowly lobed (lobes to ca 1mm long)). 

–– Type: Thailand. Loei Province, Phu Kradueng National Park, Lom Sak Cliff, alt. 1292 m, 12 June 2015, Kanemitsu et al. T4736 (holotype BKF!, isotype TNS!).  

Distribution.–– Currently Asplenium minutifolium is known only from Phu Kradueng National Park and Khao Yai National Park. 

Ecology.–– In Phu Kradueng National Park, Asplenium minutifolium occurs in a semi-shaded and damp rock crevice that is ca 50 cm wide and 10 cm deep, on the plateau at an altitude of ca 1300 m. Associated fern and lycophyte species include Aglaomorpha rigidula (Sw.) Hovenkamp & S.Linds., Goniophlebium subauriculatum (Blume) C.Presl, Oleandra undulata (Willd.) Ching, Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farw. var. heteractis (Mett. ex Kuhn) Hovenkamp, and Selaginella siamensis Hieron. Other than the elevation, nothing is known about the ecology of this species at Khao Yai National Park. 

Etymology.–– The species epithet “minutifolium” refers to the very small lamina and pinnae of this species.

 Hironobu Kanemitsu, Shuichiro Tagane, Somran Suddee, Sukid Ruangruaea, Tetsukazu Yahara. 2017. Asplenium minutifolium (Aspleniaceae), A New Species from Thailand. THAI FOREST BULL., BOT.  45(1); 29–34.  DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2017.45.1.06