Thirteen new records of ferns from Brazil

Abstract Thirteen fern species are reported for the first time for Brazil. Among the new records, eight are from Acre state (Cyathea subincisa, Cyclodium trianae, Elaphoglossum stenophyllum, Hypoderris brauniana, Pleopeltis stolzei, Thelypteris arcana, Thelypteris comosa, Thelypteris valdepilosa), two are from Pará state (Polypodium flagellare, Tectaria heracleifolia), one from Minas Gerais state (Alsophila salvinii), one from Ceará state (Campyloneurum costatum) and one from Bahia state (Thelypteris rolandii). Part of the species shows a disjunct occurrence or illustrates floristic relations between Brazilian and Andean Mountains or Central American Mountains.


Introduction
Brazil figures as one of the most diverse countries in the world and harbors distinctive ecosystems such as Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Amazonia (Veloso et al. 1991). The indigenous flora has been studied since the 18 century, with thousands of species described and documented through the years. Notwithstanding, the country is still far from consolidating its botanical knowledge (Sobral and Stehmann 2009) and collection efforts are still necessary to generate data on species distribution, and provide basis for studies on centers of endemism and richness, patterns of geographic distribution and accurate information on species threat level (Sobral and Stehmann 2009).
As a result of working effort of several taxonomists, exactly 150 years after the publication of Flora Brasiliensis' first volume,  published a list of Brazilians' known plant species, an attempt that represented an initial step in gathering information and trying to answer the question of how diverse Brazilian flora is. This checklist is also available online (http://reflora.jbrj.gov.br/jabot/listaBrasil/ConsultaPublicaUC/ConsultaPublicaUC.do) and is periodically updated to include taxa and taxonomic novelties.
Although this publication represented a remarkable starting point, it also depicted a wide range of problems, such as lacking of studies (Salino and Almeida 2008a) and sampling for several taxonomic groups, as well as those regarding taxonomic issues Almeida 2008a, Prado and. Additionally, the list highlighted the lack of knowledge and the insufficient and often biased sampling efforts performed in Brazil .
As an example of the lack of an adequate sampling, the works of Nelson et al. (1990) and Hopkins (2007) showed how biased and fragmentary are collections in brazilian Amazon. The results presented by Hopkins (2007) indicate large areas of missing information where uncollected and even undescribed species probably lies, and are therefore the ones where additional collection efforts will mostly likely bring up novelties. Although occurrence of new records for brazilian Amazon are normally expected due to the lack of studies performed in this portion of the country , finding new records in Southeastern Brazil is somewhat surprising as it holds some of the largest and most traditional plant research centers in the country (Sobral and Stehmann 2009). In this context, it is clear that even easily accessible areas close to major research centers may be still far from an ideal sampling, making it harder to precisely define geographic distribution of many taxa.
The few states that have so far published lists and pteridophyte floras are Acre Moran 2009), Santa Catarina (Gasper et al. 2012) and São Paulo states (Prado and Hirai 2011). Despite of these recent sampling efforts, new records and species have been constantly discovered in these and other states, as a result of increasing collection efforts in unexplored or poorly surveyed areas (Lopes et al. 2003, Pietrobom et al. 2004, Barros et al. 2005, Pereira et al. 2005, Costa et al. 2006, Labiak and Prado 2007, Biral and Lombardi 2012, Biral and Prado 2012, Carvalho et al. 2012, Góes-Neto and Pietrobom 2012, Dittrich and Souza 2013. th Ferns present a peculiar geographic distribution, as they have light-weighted winddispersed spores that can easily cross barriers (Tryon 1986, Moran 2008. These plants normally present wide ocurrence ranges and disjunct populations (Tryon 1972, Page 1979a, Kessler 2010) -species can have populations separated by more than 500 miles (Tryon 1972); environmental conditions seems to be intimately associated with habitat circumscription to most ferns and lycophytes species (Page 1979a). Although they are known to occur in a wide variety of habitats, tropical regions hold higher species richness than temperate ones: Southeastern Asia and Tropical America, for example, account for ca. 60% of fern species (Moran 2008). This richness, however, is unevenly distributed: middle-elevation mountains (800-2000 m) hold the richest ferns communities and the largest number of endemic species (Page 1979b, Moran 2008. As an example, primary centers for Neotropical ferns, as defined by Tryon (1972) (areas with higher species number and higher endemism), correspond to the main mountain ranges in Tropical America: Mexico, Andes, and Eastern Brazil. This geographic distribution unevenness is usually explained by the greater environmental heterogeneity present in mountainous regions (Moran 2008, Kessler 2010.
The aim of this paper is to present 13 species previously unknown to occur in Brazil.

Materials and methods
Taxonomic identifications were based on specific literature or comparisons with material previously determined by experts. In a few cases duplicates were sent to experts for confirmation. Voucher material is deposited in BHCB herbarium from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Abbreviation of authors' names was based on IPNI (www.ipni.org). Previously known distribution of taxa was compiled from literature, especially floras and taxonomic treatments. For each new record we provide examined material, comments about previously known distribution and taxonomic notes.     (Moran 1995c. Fig. 3.

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial in a fragment of Atlantic Rainforest.

Taxon discussion
This species can be recognized by petioles without conspicuous spines and with several pairs of aphlebiae toward the petiole bases (Moran 1995c, Conant 1983

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial or low epiphyte in montane wet forests.

Taxon discussion
This species can be recognized by the lanceolate or elliptical-lanceolate leaves, with inconspicuous or slightly prominulous veins (León 1993). The closest species is Campyloneurum xalapense Fée, from which it differs by the leave shape (León 1993).

Ecology
Occurs as rupestrial in rocky cliffs at river margins.

Taxon discussion
This species is characterized by the conform or subconform apical pinnae, sori medial to supramedial and petioles smooth (Stolze 1974). The closest species is Cyathea consimilis (Stolze) Lehnert (Stolze 1974) from which C. subincisa can be distinguished by the smooth or rarely tuberculate petiole (spine or muricate in C. consimilis).

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial at low elevations, usually below 500 m, at eastern side of Andes.

Taxon discussion
In his revision of Neotropical Cyclodium, Smith (1986) cited that this species and Cyclodium seemannii (Hook.) A.R.Sm. can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the round-reniform indusia. Cyclodium trianae can be readily separated from C. seemannii by the lack of sessile and globose glands in the lamina abaxially (Smith 1986

Ecology
Occurs as epiphyte or terrestrial in wet forest.

Taxon discussion
According to Tryon et al. (1991), this species resembles Elaphoglossum tectum (Willd.) T.Moore but differs from it by having glandular dots in the abaxial surface instead of stellate trichomes.

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial in wet forests along small streams.

Taxon discussion
This species can be readily distinguished by the creeping rhizomes, free venation, 2pinnatifid lamina, rachis ablate and tawny indument (Moran et al. 2014

Ecology
Occurs as epiphyte in wet forest.

Taxon discussion
This species can be distinguished from Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Bory ex Willd) Kaulf., species from which it was previously recognized as the variety Pleopeltis macrocarpa var. laciniata Stolze, by the laminar scales concolorous with laciniate margins (Tryon et al. 1993). It can also be recognized by the larger lamina and also by its shape, with broad to narrow-cuneate base (Tryon et al. 1993

Ecology
Occurs as epiphyte in montane rainforest.

Taxon discussion
This species can be recognized by the pendent leaves, one row of areoles between costa and margin and pinnae sessile to adnate (Moran 1995c). Affinities of P. flagellare as well as the relationships among Polypodium s.s. species are still uncertain (Tejero-Díez 2005).

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial or rupestrial in montane wet and seasonal forests.

Taxon discussion
This is a very common species in Central America, also occurring in northern South America. It can be recognized by peltate indusia and entire pinnae or lobes (Moran 1995b). The closest species is Tectaria incisa Cav., from which T. heracleifolia can be distinguished by peltate indusia, cordiform bases of pinnae and apical segment and smaller number of pinnae (Moran 1995b).

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial in montane rainforest.

Taxon discussion
This species is a putative hybrid between Thelypteris ( Goniopteris) tetragona (Sw.) Small and T. ( Goniopteris) poiteana (Bory) Proctor (Smith 1983). It can be characterized by the pinnae serrulate to shallowly lobed or incised to 1/3 the distance to costae, 2-3 pairs of basal veins anastomosing below sinus, and the presence of several hairs on sporangial capsule (Smith 1983).

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial in lowland rain forest.

Taxon discussion
This species is easily recognizable by the 2 -5 pairs of pinnae, cuneate at base, and tubular yellow to orange glands on the receptacle (Smith 1983). The presence of these glands is shared with T. ( Meniscium) andreana (Sodiro) C.V.Morton, the closest species to T. (Meniscium) arcana (Smith 1983).

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial in montane rain forests.

Distribution
Previously known distribution: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Peru (Tryon et al. 1992). Fig. 27. Thirteen new records of ferns from Brazil

Ecology
Occurs as terrestrial in lowland and montane rainforests.

Taxon discussion
This species is easily recognizable by the subdimorphic leaves and orangish glands present on receptacle (Smith 1980). The closest species appears to be T. (Steiropteris) leprieurii (Hook.) R.M.Tryon, which can also present dimorphic fronds (Smith 1980).

Discussion
Species with disjunct ranges occurring in Andes and mountains of eastern Brazil occur in several genera. A few examples of this pattern are Culcita coniifolia (Hook.) Maxon, Jamesonia brasiliensis Christ, Eriosorus cheilanthoides (Sw.) A.F.Tryon (Tryon and Tryon 1982) and Phlegmariurus aqualupianus (Spring) B.Øllg. The record of Alsophila salvinii is an additional example of floristic relation between the two areas, since this species was previously known to Central America and has been recently recorded in Peru . Finding new records for Brazilian Atlantic Forest [Alsophila salvinii, Thelypteris ( Goniopteris) rolandii, Campyloneurum costatum] illustrates how much this biodiversity hotspot may still harbors many unknown or poorly known species (Sobral and Stehmann 2009).
The role of eastern Brazilian mountains in lycophytes and monilophytes diversity and endemism is well known and documented (Tryon 1972, Moran 2008, Salino and Almeida 2008b. Although Moran (1995d), Moran (2008) reports that middle elevations (800 -2500 m) harbors the most diverse pteridophytes assemblages, in Brazilian Amazon the occurrence of elevations between 200 -800 m creates an environment completely different from the lowland plains where they are inserted and helps increase species numbers, including endemic and disjunct species. These elevations in Brazilian Amazon, even if low when compared with other mountain regions in Brazil as Serra do Mar, Serra da Mantiqueira or Espinhaço range, stand out from the surrounding matrix to provide environmental, climatic and edaphic conditions to the establishment of a assemblage of species different from the one observed in lowlands (Moran 1995d).
The records found at Pará state are from the mountains of Floresta Nacional de Carajás, where an assemblage of environmental features contributes to the diversity: ferruginous soils at rock outcrops, grasslands and slopes covered with moist forests. These characteristics possibly promote increase of environmental heterogeneity and make possible the establishment of a higher species number. In Amazon region, occurrence of a high species number in a given area appears to be related to the presence of rocky soils (that usually present high values of nutrients) even in areas that do not present mountains but have rough terrain as the Biological Reserve of Uatumã (Zuquim et al. 2008).