Sericopteris Jing Zhao, X.M. Zhou & Z.R. He, 2025

Zhao, Jing, Liang, Zhen-Long, Yu, Hong, He, Zhao-Rong & Zhou, Xin-Mao, 2025, Toward a monophyletic Paragympteris (Cheilanthoideae, Pteridaceae): description of Sericopteris gen. nov., Phytotaxa 693 (2), pp. 166-172 : 167-169

Sericopteris Jing Zhao, X.M. Zhou & Z.R. He , gen. nov.

– Type: Sericopteris vestita (Hook.) Jing Zhao & X.M. Zhou. ≡ Gymnogramma vestita Hook., Icones Plantarum 2: pl. 115. 1837.

Diagnosis: Morphologically, this genus is different from Paragymnopteris s.s. in having dense sericeous hairs (vs. scales) on the abaxial surface of the lamina, and is different from Pellaea in having linear sori following the entire course or distal portion of veins that are covered with dense sericeous hairs (vs. abaxially glabrous, pubescent, or with hairlike scales scattered along costae, sporangia scattered along veins near segment margins).

Etymology: The genus name is a composite from the Latin sericeus (sericea) and pteris (fern), which emphasizes the abaxial silky hairs on them. The Chinese name is suggested as ‘ ḡƚḋẍã (juan mao luo jue shu)’.

Plants usually epilithic, xeric. Rhizomes decumbent or ascending, short, stout; scales shiny, brown or dark brown, narrowly subulate. Fronds monomorphic, clustered; stipe light chestnut-colored, densely brownish sericeous; lamina lanceolate to broadly lanceolate or ovate, 1- or 2-pinnate, imparipinnate, papery or leathery, soft, abaxially densely sericeous, adaxially sparsely sericeous; rachis and costae sericeous. Pinnae lanceolate or deltoid-lanceolate, ovate or narrowly ovate, shortly stalked or long stalked, base rounded or cordate, margins entire, sometimes proximal pinnae with 1 or 2 free segments, apex obtuse; pinnules ovate-deltoid or hastate, margins entire or with 1 or 2 small segments, apex obtuse; veins obscure. Indusia absent. Sori linear, following entire course or distal portion of veins, covered with hairs, somewhat revealed when mature. Spores globose-tetrahedral, perispore cristate or rugate. Chromosome number n = 29, 30 or multiples there of 2x-4x.

Sericopteris currently contains four Asian species: Sericopteris auriculata , S. bipinnata , S. sargentii , and S. vestita .

A key for Sericopteris species:

1. Lamina 1-pinnate; pinnae rounded at base (occasionally proximal pinnae somewhat cordate at base); veins connected near frond margin.................................................................................................................................................................................... S. vestita

1. Lamina 1- or 2-pinnate; pinnae or pinnules strongly cordate or with 1 or 2 segments at base; veins free, not connected near frond margin ................................................................................................................................................................................................2

2. Lamina 2-pinnate; pinnules ovate-deltoid or hastate.......................................................................................................... S. sargentii

2. Lamina 1- or 2-pinnate; pinnules ovate..............................................................................................................................................3

3. Lamina 1- or 2-pinnate; inframedial pinnae lanceolate or deltoid-lanceolate.................................................................. S. bipinnata

3. Lamina 1-pinnate; pinnae ovate or narrowly ovate, with 1 or 2 free segments in proximal pinnae .............................. S. auriculata