Data from: A taxonomic and biogeographic reappraisal of the genus Dicksonia (Dicksoniaceae) in the Neotropics

We evaluate morphological characters of South American Dicksonia
(Dicksoniaceae) gathered from field observations and herbarium specimens.
We here adopt the taxonomic concept of earlier authors and separate D.
sellowiana of southeastern Brazil from D. navarrensis (=D. gigantea auct.)
and D. karsteniana, which occurmainly in Mesoamerica and in the Andes,
respectively. The latter species is especially variable in plant size and
persistence of the hairy indument, which can be correlated with local
ecological conditions. For plants with small, hairy fronds from shrubby
páramo vegetation, we here propose to reinstate a varietal name, D.
karsteniana var. arachnoidea, and for glabrescent plants regularly found
at lower elevations in closed forest we suggest D. karsteniana var.
spruceana. Dicksonia stuebelii is maintained as a separate species and is
reported from northern Colombia for the first time. One species is
recognized as new, D. lehnertiana; it is characterized by relatively
small, long-stalked fronds with spreading bristly hairs. Results of an
S-DIVA biogeographical analysis implemented on an updated phylogeny of
Neotropical Dicksonia separate D. sellowiana in southeastern Brazil
clearly from the rest of the taxa, whose ancestral area is reconstructed
as northern Andes–southern Mesoamerica. However, the resolution and
support in this group could be improved. Our results have significance for
conservation efforts, as D. sellowiana is now virtually a Brazilian
endemic.