A synopsis of the Neotropical species of Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae), with descriptions of nine new species

Abstract

Sticherus (Gleicheniaceae) is a pantropical genus of about 95 species, characterized by scaly buds, mostly 1-forked veinlets in the segments, (2–)3–5(–7) sporangia per sorus, pseudodichotomously branched blades with pinnatifid or pinnate ultimate branches, and monolete spores. In the Neotropics, we recognize 54 species and three named hybrids. We provide typifications, distributional data, and a key for all species. Nine species are described as new: S. albus, S. antillensis, S. chocoensis, S. fuscus, S. jacha, S. moyobambensis, S. nervatus, S. ovatus, and S. rufus. The following new combinations are proposed: S. boliviensis, S. cubensis, S. decurrens, S. farinosus, S. ferrugineus, S. interjectus, S. lanosus, S. ×leonis, S. ×pseudobifidus, S. squamosus, and S. × subremotus.