Novelties in the Anemia elegans Clade (Anemiaceae), with a New Species and Nothospecies from Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Anemia is one of the most diverse genera in Brazil, with about 60 species. Unlike many other ferns, species of Anemia are abundant in dry and rocky environments, with many of them being narrow endemics to the mountains of the Central Brazilian Cerrado. Besides its richness, several species of Anemia hybridize, and hybrids and polyploids are fairly common in the genus. During a field trip to the northernmost distribution of the Cerrado, we found an undescribed species that we describe herein – Anemia areniticola. We also describe a new hybrid, Anemia ×pirenopolitana, between two species in the Anemia elegans clade, which is the first record of a hybrid in this clade. We provide morphological descriptions and illustrations, and distribution maps for the new taxa, as well as comparisons with the most similar species. A key is also provided for the species in the Anemia elegans clade.