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The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru

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Abstract

A summary is presented of all Peruvian species of scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae). A total of 83 species is native to Peru (Sphaeropteris 1 sp., Alsophila sect. Alsophila 9 spp., Alsophila sect. Gymnosphaera 1 sp., Cyathea 72 spp.), with 13 endemic species in Cyathea and one in Alsophila. The following new species are described and illustrated: Alsophila gastonyi, Cyathea chontilla, C. nephele, C. polliculi, and C. praetermissa. The genera Cnemidaria and Trichipteris are no longer recognized and merged in Cyathea. Necessary combinations are made for Cyathea alatissima, C. nervosa, and C. uleana. Cyathea serpens is presented in detail and its relationship is discussed. An artificial key to the Peruvian species of Cyatheaceae is provided.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Michael Kessler and Alan R. Smith, who thought studying tree ferns was a good idea. They were right. I further thank my colleagues Alexander N. Schmidt-Lebuhn (Z) and Johana Toivonen. I am indebted to the curators of AAU, B, BM, COL, CUZ, F, GH, GOET, HUT, LIL, MBM, MO, P, QCA, QCNE, S, SCZ, SP, QPLS, UC, USM, UPCB, and Z for providing loans or for attending me during my visits, especially to Asunción Cano (USM). Hanna Tuomisto (TUR) and Maarten Christenhusz (BM) kindly provided additional specimens. I thank Dave Conant (LSC) and Blanco León (TEX, USM) for helpful comments on the manuscript. Special thanks go to Blanca León for additional data that supports this treatment. Field studies that contributed to the presented results were funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and the DFG (German Research Foundation, grant GR 1588/7). This research received support from the SYNTHESYS Project (http_//www.synthesys.info/), which is financed by Eurpoean Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 “Structuring the European Research Area” Programme.

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  1. Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Abt. Botanik, Am Löwentor, Rosenstein 1, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany

    Marcus Lehnert

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Lehnert, M. The Cyatheaceae (Polypodiopsida) of Peru. Brittonia 63, 11–45 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-009-9112-x

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