New taxonomic treatments in the Pteris fauriei group (Pteridaceae)

Abstract

The dividing lines between species in the Pteris fauriei group (Pteridaceae) are questionable and the systematic positions of some species in this group remain unclear. To help comprehensively understand the phylogenetic relationships and resolve the taxonomic problems in this group a phylogenetic tree was reconstructed based on five chloroplast DNA regions (atpA, matK, rbcL, rps4-trnS & trnL-trnF) from 22 Pteris taxa. Additionally, their spore morphology and type materials were studied. Based on the molecular and morphology evidence, we made treatments as follow: P. oshimensis Hieron. var. paraemeiensis Ching ex Ching et S.H. Wu was raised as a species from a variety of P. oshimensis Hieron; P. fauriei Hieron. var. chinensis Ching et S.H. Wu was treated as a synonym of P. austrotaiwanensis Y.S. Chao, rather than a synonym of P. latipinna Y.S. Chao & W.L. Chiou; and P. omeiensis Ching was restored to species status from a synonym of P. oshimensis Hieron.