''Bommeria'' is a genus of small pteridaceous rock

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except t ...

s, native to the

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...

. Genetic analysis has shown it to be a stem offshoot clade of all the cheilanthoid ferns (in family Pteridaceae), except for ''

Doryopteris ''Doryopteris'' is a genus of ferns in the subfamily Cheilanthoideae of the family Pteridaceae. Species The circumscription Circumscription may refer to: *Circumscribed circle * Circumscription (logic) *Circumscription (taxonomy) *Circumscrip ...

'', which is an even more basal ("primitive") stem offshoot. for years, it was assumed that this genus was closely allied with ''

Hemionitis ''Hemionitis'' is a genus of ferns in the subfamily Cheilanthoideae of the family Pteridaceae. Its circumscription varies greatly in different systems of fern classification. In the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I), it ...

'', but genetic analysis has shown that genus to be a more advanced genus evolutionarily. The same set of analysis has shown many presumed genera within this family to be paraphyletic, but the small genus ''Bommeria'' appears to be monophyletic, or a natural genus. ''Bommeria'' is a "gymnogrammoid" fern, exhibiting unprotected sori aligned along veins on the undersides of the fronds. This is why it was assumed to be closely allied to ''Hemionitis''. Such a feature is strongly at odds with most pteridoid ferns (Pteridaceae), which typically have linear marginal sori with an indusium, and sometimes protected with a reflexed leaf tissue margin. Apparently, this is a trait that can arise independently, and may be an atavistic trait. The stipes (leaf stems) of ''Bommeria'' are hairy, with some scales, and the fronds are hairy, both above and below. The hairs above and short and sharp, while the hairs below may be straight or curled. Scales are also present on the bottoms of the fronds. The genus name honors Belgian botanist

Jean-Édouard Bommer Joseph (Jean) Édouard Bommer (16 November 1829, Brussels – 19 February 1895, Brussels) was a Belgian botanist specializing in the field of pteridology. He was the husband of mycologist Elise Caroline Destrée de Bommer (1832-1910). Despite ...

. The basal chromosome number for this genus is ''2n=60'' (''n=30'').

Species

, the ''Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World'' recognized the following species: *''

Bommeria ehrenbergiana ''Bommeria'' is a genus of small pteridaceous rock ferns, native to the New World. Genetic analysis has shown it to be a stem offshoot clade of all the cheilanthoid ferns (in family Pteridaceae), except for ''Doryopteris'', which is an even more ...

'' (Klotzsch) Underw. –

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

*'' Bommeria elegans'' (Davenp.)

Ranker Ranker is a digital media company located in Los Angeles. The site features polls on entertainment, brands, sports, food and culture. Ranker claims to be one of the largest databases of opinions with more than 1 billion votes gathered on over mil ...

& Haufler – Mexico *'' Bommeria hispida'' (

Kuhn Kuhn is a surname of German origin. It may refer to the following: * Abraham Kuhn (banker) (1819–1892), German-American founder of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. * Abraham Kuhn (otolarynologist) (1838–1900), Alsatian otolaryngologist * Adam Kuhn (1741–181 ...

) Underw. – copper fern; Mexico,

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

*'' Bommeria pedata'' (Sw.) E.Fourn. — western Mexico and

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

*''

Bommeria subpaleacea ''Bommeria'' is a genus of small pteridaceous rock ferns, native to the New World. Genetic analysis has shown it to be a stem offshoot clade of all the cheilanthoid ferns (in family Pteridaceae), except for ''Doryopteris'', which is an even more ...

'' Maxon

Species

References

Further reading