Angiopteris nodosipetiolata (Marattiaceae), a new fern species from Yunnan, China

Abstract

Angiopteris nodosipetiolata Ting Wang tris, H.F.Chen & Y.H.Yan, a new fern of Marattiaceae, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, A. nodosipetiolata is similar to A. chingii with more than one naked pulvinus on the stipe and numerous jointed hairs on the undersides of the mature pinnae. However, the pinnae of A. nodosipetiolata are lanceolate and can reach up to 4–6 pairs, whereas they are elliptic and occur in 2–3 pairs in A. chingii. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analysis, based on the plastid genomes, also indicates that A. nodosipetiolata is not closely related to A. chingii. Currently, there are ca. 500 mature individuals in Gulinqing Nature Reserve and we suggest A. nodosipetiolata should be categorised as an Endangered (EN) species according to the criteria of IUCN.