Affinities of the fern genus Ptisana (Marattiaceae) in the Solomon Islands, with descriptions of two new species

By

Murdock, Andrew
Chen, Cheng Wei
Huang, Yao-Moan
Glenny, David, 1955-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

170

Pages

1--23

Subjects

Ferns , Marattiaceae , pteridophytes , Ptisana , Solomon Islands , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.170.59471

 

Abstract

In the process of undertaking a comprehensive review of the pteridophytes of the Solomon Islands, multiple unidentified specimens of the fern genus Ptisana Murdock (Marattiaceae) were collected. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses as well as field observations were required to identify the Solomon Islands taxa. Four species and one variety are recognized from the Solomon Islands: Ptisana ambulans Murdock & C.W. Chen, sp. nov., Ptisana decipiens Murdock & C.W. Chen, sp. nov., Ptisana decipiens var. delicata Murdock & C.W. Chen, var. nov., Ptisana papuana (Alderw.) Murdock & C.W. Chen, comb. nov., and Ptisana smithii (Mett. ex Kuhn) Murdock. The complexities in the identification of Solomon Islands collections show the limits of morphology in the genus and illuminate a path forward for untangling the Ptisana taxonomy on a broader scale.