Establishment of a New Section, Sect. Fargesiani, in Phlegmariurus Based on Phylogenetic Analysis

The model species of Sect. Funiformes C. Y. Yang and Sect. Carinaturus (Herter) H. S. Kung & L. B. Zhang was Phlegmariurus carinatus (Desv. ex Poir.) Ching. However, our phylogenetic analysis reveals that Phlegmariurus carinatus and Sect. Phlegmariurus form a clade, while the other five species form a separate monophyletic clade. This new clade is assigned to a newly proposed section in Phlegmariurus. We designate Phlegmariurus fargesii (Herter) Ching as the type species for this new section, which we named Sect. Fargesiani.

In this section, the stems, along with the leaves, are cordlike. The leaves are small and attached to the branches. The sporophyll spike is thin and cylindrical (possibly plump?). P. carinatus differs from the other species in this section as it can be either epiphytic or terrestrial. The stem of P. carinatus is not cordlike and has stronger sporophyll spikes and lanceolate leaves.