Volume 55, Issue 3 p. 705-731
Taxonomys

A classification for extant ferns

Alan R. Smith

Corresponding Author

Alan R. Smith

University Herbarium, University of California, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building #2465, Berkeley, California, 94720-2465 U.S.A.

Search for more papers by this author
Kathleen M. Pryer

Kathleen M. Pryer

Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708-0338 U.S.A.

Search for more papers by this author
Eric Schuettpelz

Eric Schuettpelz

Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708-0338 U.S.A.

Search for more papers by this author
Petra Korall

Petra Korall

Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708-0338 U.S.A.

Department of Phanerogamic Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden

Search for more papers by this author
Harald Schneider

Harald Schneider

Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abteilung Systematische Botanik, Georg-August-Universität, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany

Search for more papers by this author
Paul G. Wolf

Paul G. Wolf

Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322-5305 U.S.A.

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 01 August 2006
Citations: 956

Abstract

We present a revised classification for extant ferns, with emphasis on ordinal and familial ranks, and a synopsis of included genera. Our classification reflects recently published phylogenetic hypotheses based on both morphological and molecular data. Within our new classification, we recognize four monophyletic classes, 11 monophyletic orders, and 37 families, 32 of which are strongly supported as monophyletic. One new family, Cibotiaceae Korall, is described. The phylogenetic affinities of a few genera in the order Polypodiales are unclear and their familial placements are therefore tentative. Alphabetical lists of accepted genera (including common synonyms), families, orders, and taxa of higher rank are provided.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.