Morphological and molecular evidence reject conspecificity of Malagasy and Mascarene Parablechnum (Polypodiopsida, Blechnaceae).

ABSTRACT: Under the current treatment of the Blechnaceae, only one species of the fern genus Parablechnum is recognised in the western Indian Ocean, often referred to as P.marginatum. Two varieties are currently recognised within it: a type variety present in the Mascarene Islands of Réunion and Mauritius and P.marginatumvar.humbertii in Madagascar. Recent molecular evidence suggested that these two varieties are not closely related, questioning their conspecific status. To collect further evidence to support a taxonomic decision, we performed a morphological study based on 57 herbarium specimens comparing traits from general morphology, cross section of the fertile pinnae, sporangia and spores. As a result, Malagasy specimens can be distinguished morphologically from the Mascarene one

SUBMITTER: Molino S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9836480 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature