SYSTEMATICS OF TRICHOMANES (HYMENOPHYLLACEAE: PTERIDOPHYTA), PROGRESS AND FUTURE INTERESTS

Trichomanes L. sensu lato (s.l.), is a large group of Hymenophyllaceae to which ca. 250 species are attributed, distributed from the tropics to temperate regions around the world,. Their life forms and morphology are more diversified than those of the other large filmy-fern genus Hymenophyllum. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on the rbcL sequences of 81 Trichomanes taxa, covering most of the major groups within the genus, in addition to morphological, anatomical and cytological investigations, that offer a number of insights concerning evolution of the genus. Eight robustly supported clades are recognized within Trichomanes, while some traditional trichomanoid taxa (e.g., Pleuromanes) are transferred to the Hymenophyllum clade.