Dryopteris ningqiangensis, a new species of Dryopteridaceae from Shaanxi, China

Dryopteris ningqiangensis, a new fern species of Dryopteridaceae from Shaanxi, China, is described and illustrated herein. Morphologically, D. ningqiangensis belongs to the D. varia complex but is characterized by papyraceous laminae and sparsely spreading, blackish-brown scales on the stipe. Phylogenetic analyses show that D. ningqiangensis is of hybrid origin; its maternal parent is probably an undiscovered tetraploid D. bissetiana, and its paternal parent is D. gymnophylla.