Mycopteris is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Grammitidoideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I).[1] It is known from the American tropics.

Mycopteris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Polypodiaceae
Subfamily: Grammitidoideae
Genus: Mycopteris
Sundue[1]
Type species
Mycopteris taxifolia
(L.) Sundue
Species

See text.

Description

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Most members of the genus are epiphytes, although some grow on soil or on rocks.[2]

Taxonomy

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The genus was first described by Michael Sundue in 2014 to receive some of the species of the genus Terpsichore. When that genus was described by Alan R. Smith in 1993, he divided it into five informal groups. Subsequent morphological and molecular studies showed that while Terpsichore was polyphyletic, its groups were largely monophyletic and could furnish the basis of new genera. These genera were described over the next several years; Sundue's new genus Mycopteris, encompassing the T. taxifolia group, was the last group to be removed from Terpsichore sensu lato.[2]

The name "Mycopteris" is derived from the Greek roots myco-, "fungus", and -pteris, "fern", referring to the near-universal association of these ferns with the ascomycete fungus Acrospermum. Sundue initially placed seventeen species in the genus, one of which was newly described and another elevated from a variety.[2] He suggested that another five to ten species might be described after the completion of a monograph on the genus.[2] In 2017, he described a new species, Mycopteris martiniana, from Mexico.

Species

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As of February 2020, the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World accepted the following species:[3]

Distribution

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Members of the genus are found from Mexico east into the East Indies and south to Bolivia.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b PPG I (2016). "A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 54 (6): 563–603. doi:10.1111/jse.12229. S2CID 39980610.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sundue, Michael A. (2014). "Mycopteris, a new neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae)". Brittonia. 66 (2): 174–185. Bibcode:2014Britt..66..174S. doi:10.1007/s12228-013-9322-0. S2CID 41060242.
  3. ^ Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (January 2020). "Mycopteris". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Version 8.20. Retrieved 2020-02-22.