Adiantaceae vs. Pteridaceae - which name to use?

[John McNeill]

Correction:  In the URL that I gave just now, I mistyped Pteridophytes
-- the above is correct.  John McNeill
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      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
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Subject: Adiantaceae vs. Pteridaceae - which name to use?
Author:  Adolf Ceska <aceska at VICTORIA.TC.CA> at Internet
Date:    12/02/99 12:39 PM


When I was asked how to order pteridophytes in a mid-size herbarium
(200,000 specimens of vascular plants) I suggested using Polypodiaceae
sensu lato. I have always had problems finding the genus Cryptogramma, as
it has moved around several families like a foster child.

I wonder, when I want to treat Cryptogramma, Adiantum, Pentagramma,
Ptelea, etc. together, do they belong to Adiantaceae or to Pteridaceae? I
understand that "Adiantaceae" is a conserved name, but only against
"Parkariaceae." Am I right? It may all depend on where I would put the
genus Pteris (the family on its own, or together with Adiantum?), but
since Pteris does not occur in my area of interest, I don't have to care.

I would greatly appreciate your help.

Adolf Ceska, Victoria, B.C., Canada