Novelties in Parablechnum (Blechnaceae) from Colombia: two new species, a lectotypification and the rediscovery of Parablechnum gemmascens

Summary Two new species of Parablechnum are described and illustrated. P. mariae-teresae , is characterised by having foliar veins and tuberculiform to reniform aerophores. P. tectum has a long, erect rhizome, with broad, generally imbricate pinnae. A discussion is presented on the separation of the new taxa from those which are morphologically most similar. The new species are distributed in the southern Andean region of Colombia, at elevations between 1650 and 2100 m. In addition, the description is expanded for P. gemmascens . This species was known only from its type specimen but has now been rediscovered and found to be widely distributed in the central zone of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. A linear discriminant analysis is performed to define limits between two often-confused species, P. gemmascens and P. proliferum . Lastly, a lectotype is designated for P. lima .