Cheilanthes qiaojiaensis (Cheilanthoideae, Pteridaceae), a new fern species from Yunnan, China

Cheilanthes qiaojiaensis, a new fern of Pteridaceae subfamily Cheilanthoideae, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, C. qiaojiaensis is similar to C. chusana and Aleuritopteris rufa in having plants hairiness and laminae elliptic-lanceolate, but the new species has plants covered with dense hairs throughout, petiole and rachis flattened to narrowly grooved, and false indusia wide and continuous. The phylogenetic analysis also shows that C. qiaojiaensis is not a close relative of either A. rufa or C. chusana.

Automated summary

Cheilanthes qiaojiaensis, a new fern species, is described as similar morphologically to C. chusana and Aleuritopteris rufa, but distinguished by being covered with dense hairs, with flattened petiole and rachis, and wide continuous false indusia. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that C. qiaojiaensis is not closely related to either A. rufa or C. chusana.