<i>Polystichum hainanicola</i> (Dryopteridaceae), a new fern species from Hainan Island, China

Abstract

A new fern species, Polystichum hainanicola belonging to section Haplopolystichum (Dryopteridaceae), is described and illustrated from Hainan, the southernmost province of China. Polystichum hainanicola is most similar to P. guangxiense, but the former has pinnae with a length to width ratio of 2.5-2.7, lamina completely fertile and sori fewer than four above midrib of middle pinnae. In contrast, the latter has pinnae with a length to width ratio of ca. 3:1, lamina sterile in its lower portion and sori 6-11 above midrib of middle pinnae.

Seven new species of Polystichum (subg. Haplopolystichum; Dryopteridaceae) from southern China

“…The biodiversity in this region has been demonstrated to be rich but still has not been well understood. Botanical explorations in this region have constantly led to discoveries of unknown species of vascular plants (e.g., flowering plants in the Begoniaceae and Gesneriaceae; Ku et al 2006, Liu et al 2007, Chen et al 2008, among which the fern genus Polystichum Roth (1800: 31; Dryopteridaceae) is particularly prominent (e.g., Zhang & He 2009a, in press, Zhang et al 2010, 2013a, Luo & Zhang 2012, Zhang & Wang 2012, Li et al 2016.…”