The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of southern Africa is characterised by large, endemic radiations of flowering plants, the so-called 'Cape Clades', but it is unknown whether such radiations are also found in non-angiosperms. We hypothesise that GCFR-endemic lineages exist in the xeric adapted cheilanthoid ferns. To test this hypothesis with special emphasis on the alternative hypothesis of frequent colonization, the phylogenetic relations, divergence times, and ancestral areas of the cheilanthoid ferns of the GCFR and adjacent regions are investigated. The dataset includes 22 cheilanthoid fern species occurring in the GCFR. With two exceptions, all GCFR-endemics are part of two clades that diversified in the Afro-Madagascan region. The GCFR-endemics are further concentrated in three high-endemism subclades that did not originate simultaneously, but within the timeframe of angiosperm Cape Clades diversification. According to ancestral area reconstructions the ancestors of the two larger Afro-Madagascan clades were likely GCFR-endemic, and a substantial part of the diversification history of these clades took place in the GCFR. The high diversity of cheilanthoids in the GCFR appears to stem primarily from in situ diversification, not from immigration. This pattern resembles the numerous radiations of angiosperm clades in the GCFR, and may be caused by the same factors. We did not find evidence for rapid, synchronised radiations as documented for some, albeit not all, angiosperm Cape Clades. High diversification within and dispersal out of the GCFR has likely enriched cheilanthoid diversity in the Afro-Madagascan region.

Morphology-based delimitation of genera in the Cheilanthoid ferns has proved to be problematic and understanding of the phylogeny and relationships amongst Cheilanthoid ferns based on morphological characters has posed even further difficulties, owing perhaps in large part to adaptation by many taxa to xeric habitats, as well as convergent evolution. It is only now with the application of DNA sequence data that relationships of species and genera are becoming clear. Here, we present results of cpDNA sequence data from species that have been traditionally placed in the genus Doryopteris and, based on both these results, and morphological and distribution data, this study helps clarify the concept of the genus Doryopteris its position within the Cheilanthoid ferns and the status of Lytoneuron. As a result, three genera are redefined: Doryopteris, Lytoneuron and Ormopteris.

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Introducción y objetivos: Algunas especies de helechos cheilanthoideos son caracterizados por presentar adaptaciones a hábitats xéricos. Además, presentan la particularidad de enrollar sus láminas frente a condiciones de stress hídrico. Sin embargo, al retornar las condiciones ambientales óptimas las láminas se vuelven a expandir. El objetivo de este trabajo es proporcionar información morfo-anatómica de las frondes y asociar estructuras anatómicas a estos movimientos foliares.M&M: Se estudiaron mediante microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido la morfo-anatomía de las frondes de cuatro especies: Adiantopsis radiata, Cheilanthes glauca, Doryopteris concolor, y D. pentagona. Además, se analizó la densidad de los estomas y se calculó el índice estomático.Resultados: Se observó mesófilo homogéneo en A. radiata y D. pentagona. Cheilanthes glauca y Doryopteris concolor presentaron mesófilo heterogéneo dorsiventral. Todas las especies mostraron hojas hipoestómaticas y estomas de tipo anomocítico. El índice estomático osciló entre 9,1% (A. radiata) y 14,1% (D. concolor) y el rango de densidad de los estomas fue de 39,7 (D. pentagona) y 57,8 (D. concolor).Conclusiones: El mesófilo observado en A. radiata y D. pentagona refleja la especialización para habitar ambientes mesófilos. El mesófilo heterogéneo dorsiventral de Doryopteris concolor podría ser una ventaja para su hábito epifítico facultativo. Cheilanthes glauca tiene características xeromorfas y mesomorfas, probablemente como resultado de la disponibilidad de agua en el ambiente durante las diferentes estaciones. Se propone como hipótesis que el engrosamiento de las paredes anticlinales de las células epidérmicas podría estar involucrados en los movimientos de las láminas.

Two new species of Meniscium, M. divergens and M. triangularis are described and illustrated. In addition, four new combinations, M. cocleanum, M. hostmannii, M. lanceum, and M. maxonianum and one lectotypification—M. hostmannii—are made in Meniscium.