Diplazium clivicolum (Polypodiales, Athyriaceae), a new fern species from southern Yunnan, China

A new species in Athyriaceae, Diplazium clivicolum (section Anisogonium) is described and illustrated from southern Yunnan, China. Diplazium clivicolum exhibits the greatest morphological similarity to D. incomptum, particularly in lamina division, but can be reliably differentiated, based on lamina width and lobe shape. Molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that the new species is closely related to D. petiolare, despite low morphological concordance.

This study focuses on comparing the morphological characteristics of these three species.