Systematics and Taxonomy of the Hymenophyllum polyanthos Complex in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Domain
Hymenophyllum subg. Mecodium is subcosmopolitan and comprises ca. 35 species. Its neotropical species are poorly known taxonomically. The high degree of morphological similarity among the species and the absence of clear characters to distinguish them has confounded taxonomic treatments, resulting in the lumping of many putative segregate taxa into a broadly circumscribed Hymenophyllum polyanthos species complex. The goal of the present study was to analyze morphologically and phylogenetically the species of Hymenophyllum subg. Mecodium in the Atlantic Forest domain. Morphological studies were conducted utilizing traditional stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses were performed using plastid data for seven markers: atpB, atpB-rbcL, matK, rbcL, rbcL-accD, rps4, and rps4-trnS. Seven independent lineages were identified in this study, while morphological analysis supported the delimitation of five taxa within the Atlantic Forest domain: Hymenophyllum apiculatum, H. polyanthos, H. schomburkii, H. undulatum, and H. viridissimum. One taxon, Hymenophyllum sturmii, is recognized as a cryptic species, formed by two independent evolutionary lineages, and treated here provisionally as the H. sturmii complex. A taxonomic revision for the six taxa occurring in the Atlantic Forest domain is presented, including seven new lectotypifications, along with an identification key, descriptions, and illustrations for the species. We also provide data regarding the geographical distribution and conservation status of these six species.
Keywords: Cryptic species; Neotropics; filmy-ferns; integrative taxonomy; species complex; tropical forest
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: 1Herbário da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Universidade de Caxias do Sul - UCS. Rua Francisco Getúlio Vargas, 1130, CEP 95070-560, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil;, Email: [email protected] 2: 3Center for Global Communication Strategies, College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan 3: 2Programa de Pós-graduação em Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Campus do Vale Prédio 43433, CEP 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil 4: 4Department of General System Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
Publication date: 30 March 2023
- Systematic Botany is the scientific journal of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists and publishes four issues per year.
2011 Impact Factor: 1.517
2011 ISI Journal Citation Reports® Rankings: 87/190 - Plant Sciences
34/45 - Evolutionary Biology - Editorial Board
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