Pteris nipponica (Pteridaceae), a new record for the exotic flora of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

The exotic fern Pteris nipponica (Pteridaceae) is reported here for first time in Argentina, based on specimens collected in the Municipal Nature Reserve “Selva Marginal Quilmeña” (Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina). This work considers the species as probably naturalized, because it is able to reproduce effectively, even though not far from the source population. It also highlights the possibility that some specimens considered to be P. cretica in previous studies may belong to the variegated cultivar of P. nipponica