The systematic position ofAsplenium cardiophyllum (Aspleniaceae)

Asplenium cardiophyllum is a morphologically unusual species with simple leaves and anastomosing venation, and is often placed in the segregate genusBoniniella. To determine its systematic position, character comparisons were made of vascular anatomy, raphides in leaf epidermis, chromosome number and perispore of this species and those ofAsplenium sect.Hymenasplenium. Asplenium cardiophyllum conforms with sect.Hymenasplenium in its dorsiventral dictyostele, the presence of raphides, a chromosome number of 2n=156 (x=39), and lophate peristore with spinulate projections on the lumina. We therefore propose to includeA. cardiophyllum in that section. Dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Kunio Mitui.