Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 730 No. 3: 21 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-21
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.730.3.7
Page range: 296-300
Abstract views: 184
PDF downloaded: 20

A new generic name to solve the paraphyly of Sticherus C.Presl (Gleicheniaceae, Polypodiopsida)

Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Herbário Dr. Roberto Miguel Klein, Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brasil
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Sistemática Vegetal, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, UA, Paris, France
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, Recife, PE, Brazil
Gleicheniales Leptosporangiate ferns Nomenclature New taxon Taxonomy Pteridophytes

Abstract

Gleicheniaceae is an early diverging lineage of leptosporangiate ferns, characterized by pseudodichotomous frond branching. While six genera are phylogenetically supported, Sticherus has been found to be paraphyletic. To resolve this issue, we describe a new genus, Sticheroides gen. nov., to accommodate Sticherus truncatus and S. milnei, based on phylogenetic placement, time divergence depth, and frond architecture. We provide an updated identification key to the genera, descriptions, and comments. Sticheroides diverged from the clade formed by Gleichenia+Stromatopteris+Sticherus approximately 114–117 Mya and is distinguished by buds and rhizomes covered with scales and anisotomic branching. The new genus solves the paraphyly of Sticherus as defined so far, while ensuring nomenclatural stability within Gleicheniaceae.

References

  1. Applequist, W.L. (2024) Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants: 76. Taxon 73 (6): 1510–1522. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13266
  2. Baker, J.G. (1874) Synopsis filicum. Robert Hardwicke, London.
  3. Bernhardi, J.J. (1805) Dritter Versuch einer Anordnung der Farrnkräuter. Neues Journal für die Botanik 1 (2): 1–50.
  4. Ching, R.C. (1940) On the genus Gleichenia Smith. Sunyatsenia 5: 269–289.
  5. Lima, L.V., Salino, A., Kessler, M., Rouhan, G., Testo, W.L., Argolo, C.S., GoFlag Consortium & Almeida, T.E. (2023) Phylogenomic evolutionary insights in the fern family Gleicheniaceae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 184 (2023): 107782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107782
  6. Lima, L.V., Almeida, T.E., Kessler, M., Rouhan, G., Tagane, S., Dittrich, V.A.O. & Salino, A. (2024a) The classification of the fern family Gleicheniaceae, with the description of a new genus, segregated from Sticherus. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 206 (4): 275–295. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boae027
  7. Lima, L.V., Almeida, T.E., Kessler, M., Rouhan, G. & Salino, A. (2024b) (3006) Proposal to conserve the name Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae) with a conserved type. Taxon 73 (1): 305–306. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13119
  8. Liu, H.-M., Rakotondrainibe, F., Hennequin, S. & Schneider, H. (2020) The significance of Rouxopteris (Gleicheniaceae, Polypodiopsida): a new genus endemic to the Madagascan region. Plant Systematic and Evolution 306: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01657-9
  9. Mettenius, G.H. (1861) Flices Novae Caledonia. A.C. Vieillard collectae. Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique série 4 (15): 55–91.
  10. Nakai, T. (1950) A new classification of Gleicheniales. Bulletin of the National Science Museum 29: 1–71.
  11. Presl, C.B. (1836) Tentamen Pteridographiae. Theophilus Haase, Prague.
  12. Smith, J.E. (1793) Tentamen botanicum de filicum generibus dorsiferarum. Mémoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences (Turin) 5: 410–422.
  13. Turland, N.J., Wiersema, J.H., Barrie, F.R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D.L., Herendeen, P.S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W.-H., Li, D.-Z., Marhold, K., May, T.W., McNeill, J., Monro, A.M., Prado, J., Price, M.J. & Smith, G.F. (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashütten. https://doi.org/10.12705/Code.2018
  14. Wilson, K. (2025) Report of the General Committee: 32. Taxon 74 (4): 964–966. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.70003
  15. Willdenow, C.L. von (1804) Mertensia, ett nytt flägte af Ormbunkarne. Kongl. Vetenskaps Academiens Nya Handlingar 25 (5): 163–181.
  16. Willdenow, C.L. von (1810) Species Plantarum, Editio quarta. G.C. Nauk, Berlin.

How to Cite

Lima, L.V., Salino, A., Rouhan, G. & Almeida, T.E. (2025) A new generic name to solve the paraphyly of Sticherus C.Presl (Gleicheniaceae, Polypodiopsida). Phytotaxa 730 (3): 296–300. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.730.3.7