Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum (Dryopteridaceae), a new sexually reproducing fern from Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

Researchers have identified and described a new fern species, Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum, from the limestone ridges of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam. This discovery stands out due to its unique combination of morphological traits, including pinnae with acute and attenuate apices and distinctive black or dark brown microscales on both surfaces of the pinnae. Unlike its closest relative, C. pachyphyllum, this species also exhibits a sexual reproductive mode, as evidenced by spore counts of 64 per sporangium. The study employed detailed morphological analysis to distinguish this new species from related taxa, contributing valuable insights into the biodiversity of UNESCO-listed Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park.

Yoneoka, K., Fujiwara, T., Dang, V.-S., Pham, Q. T., Souladeth, P., Sengthong, A., Masuda, R., Yamamoto, T., Tanaka, N., & Tagane, S. (2026). Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum (Dryopteridaceae), a new sexually reproducing fern from Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam. PhytoKeys, 275, 177–189. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.275.183837