Striking genetic homogeneity in the widespread South American bracken.

PREMISE: Bracken (Pteridium, Dennstaedtiaceae) is a cosmopolitan genus of aggressive disturbance colonizers that are toxic to agricultural livestock. The taxonomy of Pteridium has been treated in multiple schemes, ranging from one to six species worldwide, with numerous subspecies and varieties. Recent work has focused on the worldwide distribution and systematics of the bracken fern, but South America has been poorly represented. We present the first continent-wide sampling and analysis of Pteridium esculentum, a Southern Hemisphere diploid species. METHODS: Within South America, P. esculentum has several morphotypes, distinguished into subspecies by variation in indument and lamina architecture. We used double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADSeq) to assess the phylogenetic relationships of P. esculentum subspecies. RESULTS: We found a striking genetic homogeneity in the species, being able to support only two morphotypes from molecular data: P. e. arachnoideum and P. e. campestre. We had high confidence for shallow and deep phylogenetic relationships, but less support for relationships among crown groups. CONCLUSIONS: We describe an east-west geographic pattern that would explain the relationships between populations; and, in contrast to previous studies, we detected differences with P. esculentum from Australia. These results will lay the foundations for studying variations in this species' behavior as a weed, as well as its impact on the production of agricultural livestock in South America.

Amauropelta yabotiensis (Thelypteridaceae), a new species from Biosphere Yabotí Reserve (Misiones, Argentina) and its taxonomic relationships.

The Yabotí Biosphere Reserve (Prov. Misiones, Argentina) with 221,155 ha, represents one of the southernmost relicts of the Paranaense forest. Currently, a project is being developed in the area to inventory and describe the ferns and lycophytes. As a result of these studies, we identify a new species of Amauropelta, A. yabotiensis. Within this genus, it belongs to the group of species with uncinate hairs and presents a unique combination of diagnostic features, including the type of pubescence on the rhizome scales, the shape of the fronds and segments and type of venation. Here, we described and illustrated the species and we analyzed its taxonomic affinities and geographic distribution. Additionally, we provided a distribution map and a key to distinguish it from other Amauropelta species from Misiones province. With this new finding, we highlighted the importance of the Yabotí Reserve as a reservoir of biodiversity in the region.

Typification of names of South American taxa related to Woodsia montevidensis (Woodsiaceae).

A revision of the nomenclature of six South American taxa related to Woodsia is presented, as a part of a taxonomic revision of the genus in South America. Lectotypes are selected for Cheilanthes crenata, Woodsia crenata var. pallidipes, Woodsia incisa, Woodsia montevidensis var. fuscipes and the second step lectotypification for Dicksonia montevidensis and Woodsia peruviana, based on the analysis of their protologues and original herbarium material. All names are currently synonyms of Woodsia montevidensis. Physematium incisum (Gillies ex Hook. & Grev.) Kunze constitutes an illegitimate name and Physematium cumingianum is considered as nomen inquirendum.