Infrageneric Revision of the Fern Genus Deparia (Athyriaceae, Aspleniineae, Polypodiales)

Abstract—

Current molecular phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly and circumscription of the athyrioid fern genus Deparia (Athyriaceae), which includes previously recognized genera including Athyriopsis, ×Depazium, Dictyodroma, Dryoathyrium (= Parathyrium), Lunathyrium, and Neotriblemma (= Triblemma Ching), and ×Neotribleparia. This broad generic concept has been adopted in several recent taxonomic treatments, including the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I. However, the infrageneric taxonomy of Deparia still needs further revision. In this study, we provide a new infrageneric classification with five sections and three subsections based on the phylogenetic evidence. We recognize two new sections, sect. Dictyodroma and sect. Erectus , and two new subsections, sect. Deparia subsect. Caespites and subsect. Athyriopsis . In addition, we provide a key to the sections and subsections, a table of diagnostic characters, new combinations for three Deparia and one Diplazium species, and a list of species assigned to the sections/subsections. Hybrids derived from crosses between the sections and subsections are also noted.