Pteris carsei (Pteridaceae), a new endemic fern from New Zealand previously treated as P. comans G.Forst

The species described by Georg Forster as Pteris comans was once thought to be widespread across the Pacific. However, previous molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that a subclade within Pteris subgenus Campteria section Tripedipteris comprises a group of Oceanian species with anastomosing vei...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New Zealand journal of botany 2020-07, Vol.58 (3), p.214-222
Main Authors: Brownsey, Patrick, Braggins, John, Perrie, Leon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coastal ecology
Endemic species
Ferns
Harbors
Indigenous species
Islands
New Zealand flora
Pholeomyia comans
Phylogeny
Pteridaceae
Pteris
Pteris carsei
Pteris comans
Pteris laevis
Pteris litoralis
Pteris microptera
Pteris zahlbruckneriana
taxonomy
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Description
Summary:The species described by Georg Forster as Pteris comans was once thought to be widespread across the Pacific. However, previous molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that a subclade within Pteris subgenus Campteria section Tripedipteris comprises a group of Oceanian species with anastomosing veins, and that the species described by Forster is actually a complex of many different species. P. zahlbruckneriana from Norfolk Island, P. microptera from Lord Howe Island, P. laevis from New Caledonia, and P. litoralis from Samoa have long been recognised as distinct entities. The New Zealand representatives were first recognised as belonging to an endemic species more than 40 years ago, but have not been formally described until now. It is described here as Pteris carsei and occurs on the Kermadec Islands, Three Kings Islands, Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel islands, and in coastal habitats of the North Island from Te Paki to Coromandel Peninsula on the east coast, and to Manukau Harbour on the west coast, with outlying populations near Ōpōtiki and at Ngarupupu Point north of Mokau. It is distinguished morphologically from other indigenous New Zealand species, and from the Pacific species, P. comans sensu stricto, P. laevis, P. litoralis, P. microptera and P. zahlbruckneriana. The status of Australian plants referred to P. comans requires further investigation.
ISSN:0028-825X
1175-8643
DOI:10.1080/0028825X.2019.1701503