Rediscovered or reconsidered: the presumed extinct ferns and lycophytes of tropical Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The veracity of records of the 11 presumed Extinct or missing ferns and lycophytes from the Wet Tropics Bioregion of northern Queensland is investigated by examination of original materials and by intensive field searches of their recording sites. Two of the species, namely Hymenophyllum whitei and Oreogrammitis leonardii, were rediscovered. One of the species, Lastreopsis dissecta, is taxonomically problematic. Another taxon, Lindsaea pulchella var. blanda, is excluded as an erroneous record. The remaining seven species, namely Didymoglossum exiguum, Haplopteris dareicarpa, Huperzia serrata, Hymenophyllum lobbii, Lemmaphyllum accedens, Pseudodiphasium volubile and Tmesipteris lanceolata, all having been recorded by Karel Domin, appear to be questionable records and their presence in Australia requires ongoing consideration unless they are relocated or can be otherwise excluded.