Lecanopteris
Lecanopteris is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Microsoroideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I).[1] They have swollen hollow rhizomes that provide homes for symbiotic ants. All are epiphytic plants that naturally occur from Southeast Asia to New Guinea.[2][3] Several species are in commerce,[4] being grown as houseplants and greenhouse curiosities.
| Lecanopteris | |
|---|---|
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| Lecanopteris curtisii | |
| Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae | 
| Clade: | Tracheophytes | 
| Division: | Polypodiophyta | 
| Class: | Polypodiopsida | 
| Order: | Polypodiales | 
| Suborder: | Polypodiineae | 
| Family: | Polypodiaceae | 
| Subfamily: | Microsoroideae | 
| Genus: | Lecanopteris Reinw.  | 
| Species | |
Taxonomy
    
    Phylogeny
    
The monophyletic genus Lecanopteris has been divided into two sub-genera, Lecanopteris and Myrmecopteris. All the species have rhizomes associated with ants. Subgenus Lecanopteris was monophyletic, and Myrmecopteris was paraphyletic.[2][3] A 2019 molecular phylogenetic study suggested that the genus was related to three other clades, treated as genera, related as shown in the following cladogram.[5]
| Lecanopteris s.l. | 
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As of February 2020, the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World recognizes the segregate genera; other sources do not.
Species
    

As of February 2020, the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World recognized the following species in Lecanopteris s.s.[6]
- Lecanopteris balgooyi Hennipman
 - Lecanopteris carnosa (Reinw.) Blume
 - Lecanopteris celebica Hennipman
 - Lecanopteris crustacea Copel.
 - Lecanopteris darnaedii Hennipman
 - Lecanopteris deparioides (Ces.) Baker
 - Lecanopteris holttumii Hennipman
 - Lecanopteris luzonensis Hennipman
 - Lecanopteris mirabilis Copel.
 - Lecanopteris pumila Blume
 - Lecanopteris sarcopus (Teijsm. & Binn.) Copel.
 - Lecanopteris sinuosa (Wall. ex Hook.) Copel.
 - Lecanopteris spinosa Jermy & T.Walker
 
References
    
- PPG I (2016), "A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns", Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54 (6): 563–603, doi:10.1111/jse.12229, S2CID 39980610
 - Gay, Honor (1993), "Rhizome structure and evolution in the ant‐associated epiphytic fern Lecanopteris Reinw. (Polypodiaceae)", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 113 (2): 135–160, doi:10.1006/bojl.1993.1068
 - Haufler, Christopher H.; Grammer, W. Andrew; Hennipman, E.; Ranker, Tom A.; Smith, Alan R. & Schneider, Harald (2003), "Systematics of the Ant-Fern Genus Lecanopteris (Polypodiaceae): Testing Phylogenetic Hypotheses with DNA Sequences", Systematic Botany, 28 (2): 217–227, JSTOR 3093992
 - Stuart, Tom (2009), "Polypods exposed" (PDF), Bulletin of the American Fern Society, 36 (2 & 3): 9–25, retrieved 2020-06-23
 - Testo, Weston L.; Field, Ashley R.; Sessa, Emily B. & Sundue, Michael (2019), "Phylogenetic and Morphological Analyses Support the Resurrection of Dendroconche and the Recognition of Two New Genera in Polypodiaceae Subfamily Microsoroideae" (PDF), Systematic Botany, 44 (4): 737–752, doi:10.1600/036364419X15650157948607, S2CID 208176686, archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-13, retrieved 2020-02-11
 - Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (January 2020), "Lecanopteris", Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World, Version 8.20, archived from the original on 2017-09-02, retrieved 2020-02-10
 
