Polyphyletic origin of Microtrichomanes (Prantl) Copel. (Hymenophyllaceae), with a revision of the species

Abstract Microtrichomanes , a controversial genus created originally to accommodate “intermediates” between Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes , was reassessed using molecular data in order to clarify the systematic position of the species assigned to it. The results strongly suggest a polyphyletic origin for Microtrichomanes , with most of the species being placed in Hymenophyllum s.l., in spite of their having the cup­shaped involucre which is the primary taxonomic character of Trichomanes s.l. Based on this result, some new combinations are made herein for the species formerly attributed to Microtrichomanes ; and an updated dichotomous key and synonymic lists are provided.