Rhachidosoraceae X.C.Zhang, 2011

Christenhusz, Maarten J. M., Zhang, Xian-Chun & Schneider, Harald, 2011, A linear sequence of extant families and genera of lycophytes and ferns, Phytotaxa 19 (1), pp. 7-54 : 16-18

Family 37. Rhachidosoraceae X.C.Zhang , fam. nov.

Based on a full and direct reference to the Latin description associated with Athyriaceae subfam. Rhachidosoroideae M.L.Wang & Y.T.Hsieh, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 42: 527 (2004).

1 genus. ( Rhachidosorus Ching , type of the family).

Description:—Medium to large ferns in forest often at rocky (limestone) places. Rhizomes thick, erect to decumbent, apeices and bases of stipes densely covered in scales; laminae 2 – 3-pinnate, deltoid to ovatedeltoid; sori linear, falcate, touching midveins at proximal ends, subparallel to midveins; indusia more or less thick, entire, on acroscopic side of lateral veinlets, asplenioid, spores with tuberculate folds. X=40.

A genus with ca. 7 species, distributed in east and southeast Asia, from Japan to Sumatra and the Philippines. Rhachidosorus was not included in Schuettpelz & Pryer (2007) and the results of Wang et al. (2003, 2004) were not accepted by Smith et al. (2006 a, 2008).

Family 38. Onocleaceae Pic.Serm. , Webbia 24: 708 (1970).

1(–4) genera: ( Onoclea ).

Reference: Gastony & Ungerer (1997).

Note:—The four genera ( Matteuccia , Onoclea , Onocleopsis and Pentarhizidium ) are very close and are here treated under the single genus Onoclea .

Family 39. Blechnaceae Newman, Hist. Brit. Ferns , ed. 2: 8 (1844).

Stenochlaenaceae Ching, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 16: 18 (1978).

2–9 genera. ( Blechnum, Brainea , Pteridoblechnum , Sadleria , Salpichlaena, Stenochlaena , Woodwardia ).

References: Nakahira (2000), Cranfill (2001), Cranfill & Kato (2003).

Note:—The genus Doodia is embedded in Blechnum ( Shepherd et al. 2007) . Combinations for these are presented below. Blechnum in its current circumscription, even including Doodia , is likely to be paraphyletic. The status of other genera such as Brainea , Pteridoblechnum , Sadleria , Salpichlaena and Stenochlaena is therefore not yet clear, but some of these should probably be included in Blechnum sensu lato (see Cranfill 2001). Further studies on the generic delimitation in this family are necessary.

Family 40. Athyriaceae Alston , Taxon 5: 25 (1956).

5 genera. ( Anisocampium , Athyrium , Cornopteris , Deparia , Diplazium )

Reference: Kato (1977), Wang et al. (2004).

The Athyriaceae include the majority of genera placed by Smith et al. (2006 a, 2008) in Woodsiaceae . The generic classification will need further study especially in the context of the monophyly of Athyrium and Diplazium .

Family 41. Hypodematiaceae Ching, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 13: 96 (1975).

3 genera ( Didymochlaena , Hypodematium , Leucostegia ).

Reference: Liu et al. (2007a), Tsutsumi & Kato (2006), Schuettpelz & Pryer (2007).

Note:—These genera were not traditionally found to be associated with each other. Hypodematium was associated with the athyrioid ferns, Didymochlaena was previously placed in Dryopteridaceae and Leucostegia in Davalliaceae . Several studies ( Liu et al. 2007 a, Tsutsumi & Kato 2006, Schuettpelz & Pryer 2007) have shown nearly simultaneously that these are related and probably form the sister clade to 'Eupolypods I'.

Family 42. Dryopteridaceae Herter, Rev. Sudamer. Bot. 9: 15 (1949), nom. cons.

Aspidiaceae Mett. ex A.B.Frank in Leunis, Syn. Pflanzenk. ed. 2. 3: 1469 (1877), nom. illeg.

Filicaceae Juss., Gen. Pl. : 14. (1789), as 'Filices', nom. illeg., rej.

Peranemataceae Ching, Sunyatsenia 5: 208 (1940), nom. rej.

Elaphoglossaceae Pic.Serm. , Webbia 23: 209 (1968).

Bolbitidaceae Ching, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 16: 15 (1978).

About 34 genera.

References: Li & Lu (2006), Li et al. (2008), Liu et al. (2007a, 2010), Moran et al. (2010a, b), Rouhan (2004).

Note:—Further studies at the generic level are still necessary for the correct placement of genera and to confirm the monophyly of the species-rich genera Dryopteris and Polystichum .

Insertis sedis: Adenoderris , Coveniella , Dracoglossum , Revwattsia , Stenolepia .

Subfamily 42a. Dryopteridoideae B.K.Nayar, Taxon 19: 235 (1970).

( Acrophorus , Acrorumohra , Arachniodes , Ctenitis , Cyrtogonellum , Cyrtomidictyum , Cyrtomium , Diacalpe , Dryopolystichum , Dryopsis , Dryopteris , Leptorumohra , Lithostegia , Peranema , Phanerophlebia , Polystichopsis , Polystichum ).

Subfamily 42b. Elaphoglossoideae (Pic.Serm.) Crabbe, Jermy & Mickel, Fern Gaz. 11: 154 (1975). Based on Elaphoglossaceae Pic.Serm.

( Arthrobotrya , Bolbitis , Cyclodium , Elaphoglossum , Lastreopsis , Lomagramma , Maxonia , Megalastrum , Mickelia , Olfersia , Polybotrya , Rumohra , Stigmatopteris , Teratophyllum ).

Family 43. Lomariopsidaceae Alston , Taxon 5: 25 (1956).

3 genera ( Cyclopeltis , Lomariopsis , Thysanosoria ).

References: Moran (2000), Rouhan et al. (2007), Tsutsumi & Kato (2006), Schuettpelz & Pryer (2007), Liu et al. (2007a).

Family 44. Nephrolepidaceae Pic.Serm. , Webbia 29: 8 (1975).

1 genus ( Nephrolepis ).

References: Hennequin et al. (2010), Hovenkamp & Miyamoto (2005).

Note:—The genus Nephrolepis has always been difficult to place. It has previously been associated with Davalliaceae and Oleandraceae ( Kramer & Green 1990) . Smith (2006 a, 2008) places it in Lomariopsidaceae , which shares the articulate pinnae. This association is however not satisfactory because the exact phylogenetic placement is still uncertain. We therefore place it tentatively in its own family until further data are available.

Family 45. Tectariaceae Panigrahi, J. Orissa Bot. Soc. 8: 41 (1986).

Dictyoxiphiaceae Ching, Sunyatsenia 5: 205, 218. 1940, nom. inval.

Hypoderriaceae Ching, Sunyatsenia 5: 209, 245. 1940, nom. inval.

6–10 genera. ( Aenigmopteris , Arthropteris , Hypoderris , Pleocnemia , Psammiosorus , Psomiocarpa , Pteridrys , Tectaria , Triplophyllum , Wagneriopteris ).

References: Christenhusz (2010b), Liu (2007b).

Note:— Arthropteris has been tentatively placed here by Smith et al. (2006a), but Liu (2007b) placed it in Dryopteridaceae . The correct placement of this genus is still uncertain. This family is poorly defined, especially when Arthropteris and Psammiosorus are included. The number of genera that belong to Tectariaceae is still uncertain.

Family 46. Oleandraceae Ching ex Pic.Serm. , Webbia 20: 745 (1965).

1 genus ( Oleandra ).

References: Tryon (1998, 2000).

Family 47. Davalliaceae M.R.Schomb., Reis. Br. - Guiana (Ri. Schomburgk) 2: 883 (1848).

2 genera ( Davallia , Davallodes ).

Reference: Kato & Tsutsumi (2009), Tsutsumi & Kato (2006), Tsutsumi et al. (2008).

Note:—Tsutsumi and collaborators (2006, 2008) provided a phylogeny of the Davalliaceae , in which they found Davallia to be polyphyletic and proposed to recognise the 5 clades at the generic level. This classification creates an inflated number of genera and an alternative two genera concept can also be considered. They proposed the genus Araiostegiella Kato & Tsutsumi (2008) and reinstated Wibelia Bernhardi (1801: 122) , the latter being a later homonym of Wibelia Gaertner et al. (1801: 97 , 144), a genus of Asteraceae (= Crepis ), and thus a new genus is needed to accommodate for Wibelia Bernh. Most species have combinations in Davallia and it seems appropriate to consider a broader concept for Davallia that includes Araiostegiella and Humata . To divide Davallia , the issue remains to which of the five clades the name Davallia should be applied, because the geographically isolated D. canariensis (L.) Sm., the type species, is not included in these studies. Without establishing to which clade this species belongs, a generic subdivision will be difficult to validate. Davallodes (incl. Araiostegia ) as treated by Tsutsumi et al. (2008) is followed here, reducing the number of genera to two, but this may require updating using an improved phylogegentic analyses in the near future.

Family 48. Polypodiaceae J.Presl & C.Presl, Delic. Prag. : 159 (1822).

Grammitidaceae Newm., Hist. Brit. Ferns : 7 (1840).

Gymnogrammitidaceae Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 11: 12 (1966).

Loxogrammaceae Ching ex Pic.Serm. in Webbia 29: 11 (1975).

Drynariaceae Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 16: 19 (1978).

Platyceriaceae Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 16: 18 (1978).

Pleurisoriopsidaceae Kurita & Ikebe ex Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 16: (1978).

50–80 genera (64 tentatively accepted here).

References: Janssen & Schneider (2005), Kreier et al. (2008), Labiak et al. (2010a, b), Otto et al. (2009), Parris (2007), Ranker (2004), Schneider et al. (2004a, c, 2006 a, b, 2008, 2010), Smith et al. (2006b), Wang et al. (2010a, b).