I am a young researcher in the field of plant sciences, specialising in the taxonomy, phylogeny, and ecology of plants (specifically on ferns). I have a great passion for expanding my knowledge of plant diversity and its integral role in ecological systems. My expertise lies primarily in the field of plant ecology, where I conduct extensive field research to explore the intricate interactions between plants and their environment. I actively participate in taxonomic studies and contribute to refining and updating the classifications of different plant groups and discovering new species. In addition, I am familiar with molecular techniques, including DNA extraction and phylogenetic analyses, which play a crucial role in elucidating the evolutionary relationships between plants. By actively contributing to the advancement of plant sciences, I am constantly striving to expand my knowledge and skills in the field.
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A review of the fern genus Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae) on tropical mountains in Sabah, Malaysia
F. ANTHONY, M. SULEIMAN, T. S. LIEW
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Jalan UMS, 88450, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Dryopteris Adans. (Dryopteridaceae) is a fern genus with an estimated 225 to 300 species worldwide. The classification of the genus Dryopteris has been controversial, with numerous sister genera being included and excluded from the genus. A most recent molecular study concluded that the genus Acrophorus, Diacalpe, Dryopsis, Acroruhmora, Peranema, and Nothoperanema are to be included in Dryopteris. Based on these previous works, there were 15 Dryopteris species recorded in Sabah and all of the species were found in Mount Kinabalu and other mountainous areas. However, there was no critical review of these species in terms of the systematic description of the plant morphology, distribution, and ecology. This study aims to review the Dryopteris genus in Sabah based on the morphology of both collected fresh specimens in the field and dried specimens from local herbarium collections. We found a total of eleven Dryopteris species in Sabah, including two new species, Dryopteris layang–layangensis Anthony, sp. nov., Dryopteris clemensiae Anthony, sp. nov., and one variety: Dryopteris sparsa var. paleaea Anthony, var. nov.