Systematic Botany (2018), 43(2): pp. 397–413 © Copyright 2018 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists DOI 10.1600/036364418X697166 Date of publication June 21, 2018 Microsorum 3 tohieaense (Polypodiaceae), a New Hybrid Fern from French Polynesia, with Implications for the Taxonomy of Microsorum Joel H. Nitta,1,2,3 Saad Amer,1 and Charles C. Davis1 1Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA 2Current address: Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Japan, 305-0005 3Author for correspondence (
[email protected]) Communicating Editor: Alejandra Vasco Abstract—A new hybrid microsoroid fern, Microsorum 3 tohieaense (Microsorum commutatum 3 Microsorum membranifolium) from Moorea, French Polynesia is described based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Microsorum 3 tohieaense can be distinguished from other French Polynesian Microsorum by the combination of sori that are distributed more or less in a single line between the costae and margins, apical pinna wider than lateral pinnae, and round rhizome scales with entire margins. Genetic evidence is also presented for the first time supporting the hybrid origin of Microsorum 3 maximum (Microsorum grossum 3 Microsorum punctatum), and possibly indicating a hybrid origin for the Hawaiian endemic Microsorum spectrum. The implications of hybridization for the taxonomy of microsoroid ferns are discussed, and a key to the microsoroid ferns of the Society Islands is provided. Keywords—gapCp, Moorea, rbcL, Society Islands, Tahiti, trnL–F. Hybridization, or interbreeding between species, plays an et al. 2008). However, many species formerly placed in the important role in evolutionary diversification (Anderson 1949; genus Microsorum on the basis of morphology (Bosman 1991; Stebbins 1959).