Published 23rd January 2014
Edited by M. Gibby & A. Leonard
REVIEW
| Causes and consequences of the variability of leaf lifespan of ferns | K. Mehltreter & J.M. Sharpe | pg(s)193-202 |
| ABSTRACT | |
| Leaf lifespan (LLS) is a fundamental ecological trait of special importance to growth and survival of ferns. The LLS of ferns varies between two and 49 months depending on species and site conditions. Whereas temperate ferns are mainly summergreen, tropical ferns are mostly evergreen. However, some tropical ferns have seasonal or even deciduous leaf phenologies or dimorphism with shorter-lived fertile leaves that are produced only during a specific time of the year. The median LLS of tropical ferns of 19.2 months is nearly twice as long as in seed plants (10.0 months). Possible correlates of leaf lifespan such as leaf mass per area, nutrient content and herbivore damage, and future research questions are discussed. |
| A short biography of Joanne M. Sharpe | pg(s)203 |
| A short biography of Klaus Mehltreter | pg(s)204 |
MAIN ARTICLES
| New combinations and lectotypifications for some South-East Asian, Malesian and Pacific grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae) | B.S. Parris | pg(s) 207-211 |
| ABSTRACT | |
| New combinations are made for Ctenopterella nhatrangensis (C.Chr. & Tardieu) Parris, Oreogrammitis pubinervis (Blume) Parris, Oreogrammitis subevenosa (Baker) Parris, Prosaptia brassii (Copel.) Parris, Prosaptia javanica (Copel.) Parris, Prosaptia samoensis (C.Chr.) Parris, Stenogrammitis minutissima (J.W.Moore) Parris, Tomophyllum duriusculum (Christ) Parris, T. foersteri (Rosenst.) Parris, T. lividum (Mett.) Parris, T. secundum (Ridl.) Parris and T. sesquipinnatum (Copel.) Parris. Lectotypes are chosen for Polypodium emersonii var. samoense C.Chr., P. minutissimum J.W.Moore, P. secundum Ridl., P. subcoriaceum Copel. & P. subsecundodissectum var. novoguineense Rosenst. |
| The nomenclature, typification and taxonomy of Asplenium falcatum, A. polyodon and confused species | A.E. Salgado & C.R. Fraser-Jenkins | pg(s) 213-239 |
| ABSTRACT | |
| Asplenium falcatum Lam., described from Sri Lanka was a part of Linnaeus’ concept of Trichomanes adiantoides L. The taxonomic history of T. adiantoides is outlined, showing that Linnaeus had a mixed concept and that the name had subsequently been taken in two different senses by later authors. It is lectotypified here in the sense of the African species known as Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. and a proposal to reject the name T. adiantoides and all combinations based on it is being prepared. This is intended to enable the Sri Lankan element within T. adiantoides to continue to be known by its well-known name, A. falcatum Lam., and the African as A. aethiopicum, which species are outlined further and their ranges in Africa and Asia are given. Although the name A. polyodon G.Forst. had recently been applied to A. falcatum, it is a distinct species confined to Australasia. Other related S.E. Asian and Polynesian species are discussed briefly and contrasting diagnostic descriptions are provided to distinguish between the often confused species, A. polyodon, A. falcatum and A. macrophyllum Sw. |
BOOK REVIEWS
| Who found our ferns? John Edgington. 2013. British Pteridological Society Special Publication No. 12 | H.S. McHaffie | pg(s) 205-206 |
