Moranopteris: A new Neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae) segregated from Asian Micropolypodium

Moranopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns here described, is segregated from Micropolypodium on the basis of molecular phylogenetic analyses (plastid sequences including atpB, rbcL and trnL-trnF) and morphological characters. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses support Moranopteris as sister clade to a group that includes Micropolypodium s.str. and 11 or 12 other genera, mostly from the Old World. A morphological synapomorphy for the species of Moranopteris is the presence of minute and slightly catenate branched hairs (with or without a setiform branch) and sometimes unbranched hairs occurring together on the stipes, costae, and laminar tissues abaxially. In contrast, Micropolypodium s.str. has only minute, catenate, and unbranched hairs borne on the same parts of the leaves. The new genus Moranopteris comprises 28 species-including two new species here described, M. rupicola and M. simplex and one hybrid, occurring in the Neotropics. The 27 necessary new combinations are here proposed. Our results suggest that Micropolypodium is confined to eastern Asia.