taxonID	type	description	language	source
F11787D0FFBE0C1DFF57FCF6FD73185C.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Guangxi: Baise City, Napo County, 105 ° 51 ′ 22.174 ″ E, 22 ° 57 ′ 30.171 ″ N, elev. ca. 1032 m, 20 May 2023, Chen Xiao-hua & Li Min-yu YYH 19982 (Holotype PE!; isotype NOCC!). Diagnosis: — It is characterized with a simple lamina, or occasionally pinnatilobate at the base, whereas other species consistently exhibit 1 - pinnate laminae. It resembles P. fraxinellum but differs in having oblong-rectangular, entire, and obtuse-apex lateral pinnae, in contrast to the ovate-lanceolate lateral pinnae of P. fraxinellum, which feature slightly curved, distally basiscopic margins that are regularly shallowly incised-toothed with acuminate apices. Additionally, the venation in P. cretaceum is free, whereas it is reticulate in P. fraxinellum (Table 1). Evergreen plants, 4.3 – 8 cm tall. Rhizome erect or ascending, short, 0.5 – 0.8 cm in diam, densely covered with lanceolate brown scales. Fronds clustered; petiole straw-colored, groove, 2 – 3 cm long, 0.1 – 0.2 cm in diameter; basal portion densely covered with scales; basal scales ovate-lanceolate, caudate, brown, edges with lighter color, apex with caudal tip and margins with sparse ciliated; distal stipe scales similar but narrower. Lamina triangular to broadly lanceolate, simple or one lateral pinnules at base or 1 - pinnate; simple lamina entire or undulate or slightly repand, coriaceous, elliptic, apex of lamina rounded, base of lamina cordate; 1 - pinnate lamina 2.5 – 3.5 cm long, ca. 1 – 1.5 cm wide, apex obtuse, pinnae 2 – 4 pairs, oblong-rectangular, entire, shortly stalked, base asymmetric and cuneate, auricles indistinct; adaxially pilose or glabrous, abaxially sparsely lanceolate scaly. Sori terminal on lateral veins, rounded. Indusium indusiate, orbiculate, peltate. Spores 40 – 50 μm in diam., the polar view is nearly round, the equatorial view is oval, the outer perispore surface ornamentation is fenestrate, and the spore is smooth after removing the outer perispore (Fig. 3).	en	Chen, Xiao-Hua, Shu, Jiang-Ping, Xu, Yi-Da, Liu, Hong-Mei, Chen, Li-Jun, He, Jiao, Zheng, Xi-Long, Gu, Yu-Feng (2025): Polystichum cretaceum (Polystichum sect. Cyrtogonellum, Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 690 (2): 276-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8
F11787D0FFBE0C1DFF57FCF6FD73185C.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — Napo County, Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.	en	Chen, Xiao-Hua, Shu, Jiang-Ping, Xu, Yi-Da, Liu, Hong-Mei, Chen, Li-Jun, He, Jiao, Zheng, Xi-Long, Gu, Yu-Feng (2025): Polystichum cretaceum (Polystichum sect. Cyrtogonellum, Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 690 (2): 276-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8
F11787D0FFBE0C1DFF57FCF6FD73185C.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology and conservation: — Polystichum cretaceum is currently known only from its type locality in Napo County, Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, where approximately 50 individuals have been documented. It grows on damp, shaded limestone walls along winding mountain roads. The region’s high rainfall and frequent landslides pose significant threats to the survival of the species.	en	Chen, Xiao-Hua, Shu, Jiang-Ping, Xu, Yi-Da, Liu, Hong-Mei, Chen, Li-Jun, He, Jiao, Zheng, Xi-Long, Gu, Yu-Feng (2025): Polystichum cretaceum (Polystichum sect. Cyrtogonellum, Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 690 (2): 276-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8
F11787D0FFBE0C1DFF57FCF6FD73185C.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet “ cretaceum ” is derived from the habitat of this newly identified species, which thrives on moist, chalky soil slopes. Vernacular name: — H 垩 ※ 叶ff ẍ (bai e liu ye er jue)	en	Chen, Xiao-Hua, Shu, Jiang-Ping, Xu, Yi-Da, Liu, Hong-Mei, Chen, Li-Jun, He, Jiao, Zheng, Xi-Long, Gu, Yu-Feng (2025): Polystichum cretaceum (Polystichum sect. Cyrtogonellum, Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 690 (2): 276-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8
F11787D0FFBE0C1DFF57FCF6FD73185C.taxon	materials_examined	Additional specimens checked: — Polystichum cretaceum (paratype): CHINA. Guangxi: Baise City, Napo County, 105 ° 51 ′ 22.174 ″ E, 22 ° 57 ′ 30.171 ″ N, elev. ca. 1032 m, 15 May 2023, Xu Yi-Da 22251 (NOCC). Polystichum fraxinellum: CHINA. Guizhou: 24 Oct 1898, Bodinier, E. M. & Laborde, J. 2527 (E) E 00429039; Luodian, elev. 937.3 m, 106 ° 45 ′ 44.74 ″ E, 25 ° 33 ′ 0.14 ″ N, 14 Oct 2015, Wang M. C. LDX 098 (GZTM) GYBG 0005447; Zheng'an, Hexi, Shuanglong, 107 ° 22 ′ 04 ″ E, 2 ° 26 ′ 30 ″ N, elev. 1002.9 m, 25 March 2016, Zheng J. H. 520324160325014 LY (GZTM) GZTM 0043075. Sichuan: Leshan, Mt. Emei, elev. 1400 m, 1 Nov 1964, Guan K. J., Wang J. W. & Li C. L., 2422 (PE) 00984615. Chongqing: Nanchuan, Mt. Jinfoshan, elev. 1100 m, 17 Oct 2002, Zhang X. C., Liu Z. Y. 2596 (PE) 01450701.	en	Chen, Xiao-Hua, Shu, Jiang-Ping, Xu, Yi-Da, Liu, Hong-Mei, Chen, Li-Jun, He, Jiao, Zheng, Xi-Long, Gu, Yu-Feng (2025): Polystichum cretaceum (Polystichum sect. Cyrtogonellum, Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 690 (2): 276-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8
F11787D0FFBE0C1DFF57FCF6FD73185C.taxon	description	Polystichum minimum: CHINA. Guizhou: Ninggu, in fissuris rupium, 29 Aug 1965, P. S. Wang 1155 (PE) 00984641; Huaxi Park, elev. 1300 m, Cao Z. Y. 0280 (PE) 09984639. Chongqing: Wulong, Changba, elev. 540 m, 21 Sept 2007, Liu Z. Y. 180174 (PE) 01818962; Nanchuan, Mt. Jinfoshan, 1 Nov 2002, Lu J. M, Chen Y. & Li H. Z. 047 (KUN) 1225643; 29 Sept 2007, Liu Z. Y. 071510 (IMC) IMC 0006088. Guangxi: longlin, elev. 1550 m, 105 ° 14 ′ 03.72 ″ E, 24 ° 38 ′ 37.44 ″ N, 28 Oct 2014, Lv H. Z., Nong D. X. & Cen H. F. 451031141028033 LY (GZTM) GXMG 0188418. Polystichum tenuius: CHINA. Guangxi: elev. 1133 m, 2 Aug 1928, Ching R. C. 6649 (PE) 00984597; Nandan, elev. 616 m, 107 ° 36 ′ 03.01 ″ E, 25 ° 04 ′ 33.28 ″ N, 1 July 2019, Nandan Census Team 451221190701001 LY (GZTM) GXMG 0198694. Guizhou: Maolan National Nature Reserve, elev. ca. 800 m, 20 Aug 2015, Li Z. Y., Wei R. & Zhang H. R. 7326 (PE) 02056173. Hunan: Changde, Shimen, Anxi, 110 ° 41 ′ 34 ″ E, 29 ° 50 ′ ' 30 ″ N, 31 Oct 2013, Jin S. L. & Zhang J. B. ISL-WLSQ 202 (CSH) CSH 0141140; Sangzhi, elev. 420, 110 ° 04 ′ 54 ″ E, 29 ° 42 ′ 35 ″ N, 21 Oct 2014, Zhou X. L., Yan Y. H. & Jin D. M. ZXL 9690 (CSH) CSH 0045120.	en	Chen, Xiao-Hua, Shu, Jiang-Ping, Xu, Yi-Da, Liu, Hong-Mei, Chen, Li-Jun, He, Jiao, Zheng, Xi-Long, Gu, Yu-Feng (2025): Polystichum cretaceum (Polystichum sect. Cyrtogonellum, Dryopteridaceae), a new fern from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 690 (2): 276-284, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.690.2.8
