Researchers report new fern species from Yunnan, China

The genus Angiopteris Hoffmann, which belongs to the Eusporangiate ferns within the Marattiales Link and Marattiaceae Kaulf., is a crucial clade in the origin and evolution of ferns, offering significant ornamental, medicinal, edible, and scientific research value.

At present, Angiopteris is recognized to contain about 53 species in the world, with 30 species in China (18 of which are endemic).

During a field survey of Angiopteris in the Gulinqing Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, in August 2022, researchers led by Prof. Chen Hongfeng from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a presumed new species within the genus, and they collected specimens for further morphological observations.

After consulting Flora of China, literature, and data from websites such as CVH and GBIF, the researchers found that this species had morphological characteristics different from those of known species.

For example, it is quite similar to A. chingii J.M. Camus in having more than one bare pulvinus on the stipe and numerous joint-like hairs on the undersides of the mature pinnae. However, the pinnae of the former are lanceolate and occur in 4–6 pairs, while the pinnae of the latter are elliptical and occur in only 2–3 pairs.

Judging by the shape of the laminae, this species also closely resembles A. latipinna (Ching) Z. R. He, W. M. Chu & Christenh. and A. subrotundata (Ching) Z. R. He & Christenh. However, these two species have only one bare pulvinus on the stipe, and the surfaces of their mature pinnae are smooth and hairless except for the mid-rib.

In July 2023, the researchers returned to Gulinqing Nature Reserve to conduct a detailed survey and statistics on the natural environment, species number, and morphological characteristics of this species, and collected molecular samples for chloroplast genome sequencing.

Phylogenetic and genetic distance analysis revealed that this species is not closely related to the above-mentioned morphologically similar species, and there is significant genetic distance between the species.

Integrating morphological and molecular systematic research, the team confirmed this species as a new species of the genus Angiopteris, named Angiopteris nodosipetiolata Ting Wang tris, H. F. Chen & Y. H. Yan based on its stipe characteristics with multiple pulvinus.

The research is published in the journal PhytoKeys.

At present, there are about 500 mature individuals of Angiopteris nodosipetiolata has been found at the type locality. According to IUCN standards, it is recommended that this new species be listed as Endangered and, like other members of the genus Angiopteris, be given second-level national protection.

Potential species similar to Angiopteris nodosipetiolata may exist in nature reserves as well as in areas of high human activity such as cities or rural areas. Only through active conservation and scientific research can we ensure the preservation of the diversity and uniqueness of all life on Earth.