Phylogenetic comparative morphological analysis of fern spores in subfamily Pteridoideae (Pteridaceae, Pteridophyta).

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize spore morphology of 24 taxa of the subfamily Pteridoideae C. Chr. ex Crabbe, Jermy & Mickel of the family Pteridaceae E.

Diversification and reticulation in the circumboreal fern genus Cryptogramma.

We investigated the evolutionary complexity that resulted from cryptic diversification and polyploidy in parsley ferns (Cryptogramma). A total of 14 species were included in our data set, with six outgroup species and eight Cryptogramma species. DNA sequence data from six plastid loci (rbcL, rbcL-accD, rbcL-atpB, rps4-trnS, trnG-trnR and trnP-petG) were analyzed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods to provide the first rigorous assessment of diversification in the genus, including testing the monophyly of the genus and sections.