Aciphylla latipinna Perrie, Glenny, & L.D.Sheph. is newly described after testing the morphological and genetic distinctness of a long‐recognised unresolved taxonomic entity whose informal names include Aciphylla aff. horrida (a) (CHR 511521; Lomond). Analyses of genetic data from ddRADseq DNA sequencing found A. latipinna to be only distantly related to A. horrida but closer to A. aurea . When hybrids were accounted for, A. l...

The lastreopsid ferns currently comprise four genera, with two of them, Lastreopsis and Parapolystichum , poorly delimited morphologically. Attribution of species to Lastreopsis or Parapolystichum has principally been by phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast DNA sequences. The last of the Australasian species of Lastreopsis to have its phylogenetic placement investigated is Lastreopsis nephrodioides , endemic to Lord Howe Islan...

Understanding how genetic variation is spatially distributed is necessary for understanding the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. However, there has been little investigation into the phylogeography of widespread forest trees in Aotearoa New Zealand with studies to date showing little congruence in phylogeographic patterns. Pseudopanax crassifolius (lancewood/horoeka) is a widespread lowland forest tree endemi...

The electronic Flora of New Zealand – Ferns and Lycophytes includes 466 basionyms relevant to the New Zealand flora. These names are typified by 281 lectotypes, 4 neotypes, 1 conserved type, 4 names for which a designation has not been made, and 25 for which a type could not be located. The remaining 151 basionyms have been considered in initial editions of the Flora as having holotypes. However, 37 of these require lectotypif...

Blechnum opacum is a small forest fern indigenous to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. After examining the considerable morphological variation in New Caledonian populations, along with phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast DNA sequences, we conclude that B. deplanchei should be reinstated for some of the plants in New Caledonia. Blechnum deplanchei is readily recognisable, with pinnatisect fronds that are usually larger, pinnae that...

The fern genus Lastreopsis has been recently re‐circumscribed to include about 19 species. It occurs from southern Asia through the Pacific to the Neotropics, with Australasia having the most species. We here describe a new species endemic to New Caledonia's Grande Terre, L. abscondita . Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast DNA sequences show that L. abscondita resembles and is closely related to...

Pyrrosia serpens is recorded here for the first time from the New Zealand Botanical Region, based on a single collection from Dayrell Island in the Kermadec Islands. This is a significant southern extension of range for the species, otherwise known in the Pacific from Fiji to Pitcairn and Henderson Islands. The identification of the Dayrell Island collection is based on evidence from both morphology (particularly soral and rhi...

Notogrammitis (Polypodiaceae) is a medium‐sized genus of ferns in New Zealand with 11 indigenous species. Lectotypes are chosen here for the basionyms Asplenium angustifolium Jacq., Grammitis humilis Hombr. and G. rigida Hombr., but no type material has been found for Grammitis australis var. alpina S.Jones or G. australis var. villosa Hook.f., and the types for these names remain undesignated. In Blechnum , a lectotype is des...

This study examines the taxonomic rank of the New Zealand endemic sedge Schoenus caespitans . This taxon has been alternatively recognised as a separate species or as a variety of Schoenus apogon and no clear consensus on its rank has been reached. We analysed chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences of sympatric S. caespitans and S. apogon from two populations. We found that S. caespitans and S. apogon are genetically as well as...

Pteridaceae is a large family of ferns in New Zealand with six genera, 15 indigenous species and 11 naturalised species. Eleven lectotypes are designated for basionyms relevant to New Zealand – Adiantum affine var. heterophyllum Colenso, A. cunninghamii Hook., A. pullum Colenso, A. trapeziforme G.Forst., A. trigonum Labill., Cheilanthes sieberi var. deltoidea J.B.Armstr., C. kirkii J.B.Armstr., Pteris affinis A.Rich., P. macil...

The species described by Georg Forster as Pteris comans was once thought to be widespread across the Pacific. However, previous molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that a subclade within Pteris subgenus Campteria section Tripedipteris comprises a group of Oceanian species with anastomosing veins, and that the species described by Forster is actually a complex of many different species. P. zahlbruckneriana from Norfolk Is...

Phlegmariurus varius is an Australasian species of lycophyte that has long been recognised as morphologically and ecologically variable. A recent study reported incongruence between morphological and genetic variation within New Zealand samples. However, a reappraisal and repeat of the genetic analyses of chloroplast DNA sequence data, and a more detailed examination of morphological variation, strongly supports the recognitio...

We review the biology and ecology of the endemic New Zealand genus Alseuosmia A. Cunn. The taxonomy of the genus has a complicated history with considerable debate about both its relationship to other genera and the number of species recognised within it. Alseuosmia is now considered to belong to the small Southern Hemisphere family Alseuosmiaceae. Five species are currently accepted within Alseuosmia ( A. macrophylla A. Cunn,...

Recent treatments have recognised seven species indigenous to New Zealand in the fern genus Adiantum. Most of these species display dimorphism with respect to the presence or absence of hairs on the abaxial pinna surfaces, or the nature of the hairs themselves. Taxonomic treatment of these dimorphisms has not been consistent, with variation sometimes treated at the specific or varietal levels, or not recognised at all. Morphol...

Blechnaceae is a medium‐sized family of ferns in New Zealand with one genus, 23 indigenous species, two naturalised species and two nothospecies. A new combination, Blechnum × digenum (Parris) Brownsey & Perrie, is made for the hybrid between Blechnum molle (Parris) Christenh. and B. parrisiae Christenh. 11 lectotypes are chosen for basionyms relevant to New Zealand – Lomaria dura T. Moore, L. filiformis A. Cunn., L. membranac...

Dryopteridaceae is a large family of ferns with 13 indigenous species in New Zealand, and Nephrolepidaceae a small family with two indigenous species. Five lectotypes are chosen for basionyms relevant to New Zealand – Aspidium cystostegium Hook., Nephrodium decompositum var. pubescens Hook., N. pentangulare Colenso, Polypodium setosum G.Forst., and Polypodium silvaticum Colenso. A neotype is designated for Nephrodium brownii D...