Towards a phylogenetic generic classification of Thelypteridaceae: Additional sampling suggests alterations of neotropical taxa and further study of paleotropical genera

New combinations in Neotropical Thelypteridaceae

“…It has a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species occurring in tropical and subtropical regions (Smith 1992, Smith et al 2006, 2008). The family is monophyletic as usually construed (Smith and Cranfill 2002, Schuettpelz and Pryer 2007, He and Zhang 2013, and Almeida et al 2015). However, the classification within the family is controversial, with authors recognizing different numbers of genera: 32 (Pichi Sermolli 1977), 25 (Holttum 1971, 1982, Old World only), 20 (Ching 1978), 5 (Smith 1990a, Smith et al 2006, 2008), or only one (Morton 1969, Tryon and Tryon 1982).…”

“…Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have recovered two main groups in the family: the phegopteroid and the thelypteroid lineages (Smith and Cranfill 2002, He and Zhang 2012, and Almeida et al 2015). The phegopteroid lineage includes two paleotropical genera, Macrothelypteris (H.Itô) Ching ( ca.…”

“…The sister group to Thelypteris s.s. comprises two well supported, much larger clades: the amauropeltoid clade, comprising the genera Amauropelta Kunze, Parathelypteris (H. Itô) Ching, Coryphopteris Holttum, and Metathelypteris (H.Itô) Ching, and the cyclosoroid clade, comprising several genera from the Old World and the New World (He and Zhang 2012, and Almeida et al 2015). Inside the cylosoroid clade, several groups in the Paleotropics are still ill-defined and probably not monophyletic (He and Zhang 2012, Almeida et al 2015).…”

“…Itô) Ching, Coryphopteris Holttum, and Metathelypteris (H.Itô) Ching, and the cyclosoroid clade, comprising several genera from the Old World and the New World (He and Zhang 2012, and Almeida et al 2015). Inside the cylosoroid clade, several groups in the Paleotropics are still ill-defined and probably not monophyletic (He and Zhang 2012, Almeida et al 2015). Thus, the current infrafamilial classification for Thelypteridaceae is not in accordance with growing phylogenetic evidence and principles of monophyly.…”

“…The following native Neotropical genera of Thelypteridaceae are recognized: Amauropelta, Christella Lév. (a more precise circumscription still pending), Cyclosorus Link, Goniopteris (C.Presl) Duek., Meniscium Schreber, Stegnogramma Blume, Steiropteris C.Chr., and Thelypteris Schmidel, based on the recent molecular phylogenetic data for this family (Almeida et al 2015) and the morphological uniformity recognized in previously proposed classifications (Holttum 1971, Pichi Sermolli 1977, Smith 1980, 1990a). With the exception of Amauropelta and Thelypteris, the other six genera belong to the cyclosoroid clade.…”