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Issue: Vol. 777 No. 2: 30 Sept. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-09-30
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.777.2.6
Page range: 166-174
Abstract views: 53
PDF downloaded: 2

Dryopteris calciphila (Dryopteridaceae), a new fern species from limestone karsts in northern Vietnam

Vietnam National Museum of Nature; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; 18 Hoang Quoc Viet; Nghia Do; Hanoi; Vietnam
Vietnam National Museum of Nature; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; 18 Hoang Quoc Viet; Nghia Do; Hanoi; Vietnam
Du Gia Special-Use Forest Management Board; Minh Sơn; Tuyen Quang Province; Vietnam
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Biogeography; Kunming Institute of Botany; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming; Yunnan 650201; China
Missouri Botanical Garden; 4344 Shaw Blvd.; St. Louis; Missouri 63110; USA
State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Biogeography; Kunming Institute of Botany; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming; Yunnan 650201; China
Pteridophytes Dryopteris sect. Erythrovariae limestone karst northern Vietnam Tuyen Quang Province

Abstract

A new fern species, Dryopteris calciphila (Dryopteridaceae), is described from the karst limestone regions of Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam. Morphologically, the new species is placed in Dryopteris subg. Erythrovariae and most closely resembles D. tahmingensis in having dense black scales and pinnules or lobes with obtuse apices. However, it differs from D. tahmingensis in having thickly papery lamina and nearly entire pinnule or lobe margins, whereas D. tahmingensis has herbaceous lamina and toothed margins. Phylogenetic analyses based on five plastid markers (rbcL, trnL, trnL–F, rps4, and rps4–trnS) confirm its placement within Dryopteris sect. Erythrovariae and recover it as a distinct lineage within the section. A detailed taxonomic description, color plate, and information on its morphology, habitat, and distribution are provided. Given its narrow distribution and small observed population size, the species is provisionally assessed as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This discovery highlights the high level of endemism in the limestone ecosystems of northern Vietnam and further enriches the known diversity of Dryopteris in the region.

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How to Cite

Lu, N.T., Vu, C.T., Vuong, L.D., Jin, S.-Y., Zhang, L.-B. & Zhang, L. (2026) Dryopteris calciphila (Dryopteridaceae), a new fern species from limestone karsts in northern Vietnam. Phytotaxa 777 (2): 166–174. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.777.2.6