Redefinition of Adiantopsis Fee (Pteridaceae): Systematics, diversification, and biogeography

We present the first multi-gene phylogeny of taxa potentially allied to the fern genus Adiantopsis, one of about 20 genera in the large group of cheilanthoid ferns. Our goals were to clarify natural relationships, examine generic boundaries, and interpret character evolution within a phylogenetic framework. Phylogenetic analysis of combined plastid rbcL and atpA DNA sequences has led to an expansion of generic boundaries in Adiantopsis, a recircumscription that is clearly defensible with morphological data. Biogeographic analyses suggest an origin for the genus in South America, with a minimum of three migrations into the Caribbean. We include a synopsis of the genus and two new combinations.