Ferns and Lycophytes of Colonia Benítez (Chaco, Argentina) Educational Nature Reserve

Abstract

The Educational Nature Reserve of Colonia Benítez comprises approximately 8 ha and is located in the department of Primero de Mayo of the Chaco Province, Argentina. This protected area occurs within the Chaco Oriental District of the Chaco phytogeographic province. The main aims of the present study were to realize an inventory of ferns and lycophytes and provide a key to identify all the taxa present in the reserve. We analyzed the collections deposited at the herbarium CTES and collected new specimens. A total of 12 genera and 17 species were recorded. Doryopterisis the best represented genus with three species: D. concolor, D. lorentzii and D. pentagona. Three genera included two species: Adiantopsis(Ad. chlorophylla and Ad. tweediana), Anemia(An. simplicior and An. tomentosavar. anthriscifolia), and Pteris(P. denticulatavar. tristiculaand P. vittata). The remaining genera included only one species: Adiantum lorentzii, Anogramma chaerophylla, Azolla cristata, Hemionitis tomentosa, Microgramma vaccinifolia, Pityrogramma calomelanosvar. calomelanos, Pleopeltis minima, and Selaginella sellowii. The terrestrial habit was the best represented with 12 species, one of which was rupicolous and other three were facultative or accidental epiphytes. Only two taxa were strict epiphytes. Azolla cristatawas the only aquatic species recorded in the area. Ecological observations and biogeographical analyses are provided for the recorded species.