Phytotaxa 158 (1): 057–075 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ Article PHYTOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.158.1.4 Revision of the fern family Marattiaceae in the Seychelles with two new species and a discussion of the African Ptisana fraxinea complex. BRUNO SENTERRE1, 2, GERMINAL ROUHAN3, ISABELLE FABRE2, CHARLES MOREL2, 4 & MAARTEN J.M. CHRISTENHUSZ5 1Evolutionary Biology & Ecology - CP 160/12, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Av. F. Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium. E-mail:
[email protected] 2Plant Conservation Action group (PCA), P.O. Box 392, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles. 3Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7205 ‘Origine, Structure et Evolution de la Biodiversité’, Herbier national, 16 rue Buffon, CP 39, F-75231 Paris cedex, France, E-mail:
[email protected] 4Natural History Museum, P.O. Box 720, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles. 5Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, U.K, E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract The fern flora of the Seychelles archipelago remains relatively poorly known. Current projects involving the development of the Seychelles National Herbarium and study of key biodiversity areas have resulted in extensive new explorations on the granitic islands. Historical literature, newly collected specimens and older collections have been revised for the fern family Marattiaceae as a prelude for a fern checklist, resulting in the rediscovery of Ptisana a century after it was last reported (as Marattia). Two species of Angiopteris are recognised in the Seychelles, one of them new to science. In total, three species are recorded from the granitic Seychelles islands, Mahé and Silhouette, and none from the coral islands, which are too dry to harbour Marattiaceae.