Molecular, chromosomal, and morphological evidence reveals a new allotetraploid fern species of Asplenium (Aspleniaceae) from southern Jiangxi, China

Abstract

Asplenium jiulianshanense , a new tetraploid fern species of the A. normale complex ( Aspleniaceae ) from Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, southern Jiangxi, China is described and illustrated. We inferred the phylogenetic position of the new species based on sequences from seven plastid markers ( atpB, rbcL, rps4, rps4-trnS, trnL, trnL-F, and trnG) and one low-copy nuclear gene, pgiC. The plastid phylogeny supported a close relationship among the new species A. jiulianshanense , A. minutifolium , and A. kiangsuense , while the nuclear phylogeny differed in topology from the plastid tree. The new species may be due to hybridization between A. kiangsuense and A. boreale . Morphologically, the new species can easily be distinguished from other members of the A. normale complex by rachises bearing a gemma near the apex, pinna margins entire to sparsely crenate, and (1‒)3‒4(‒6) sori per pinna.