Primer registro del género monotípico Llavea (Pteridaceae) para Honduras

Background and Aims: Although there is a list of potential orchid species for Honduras, the dark diversity of the pteridophyte group has not been explored. Therefore, the number of species that present this type of gap in their distribution in the country is unknown. Llavea cordifolia presented a disjunct distribution between Mexico-Guatemala and Costa Rica, and its finding was thus to be expected in sites with the species’ characteristic habitat within Honduras. The aim of this work is to describe its first record in the country.Methods: During a biological expedition in the Puca Wildlife Refuge, Honduras, a fern sample with distinctive morphology was collected at 1716 m a.s.l. The determination was performed using specialized taxonomic keys, and its status as a new record was verified through literature review and international botanical databases.Key results: This study documents the first record of Llavea cordifolia in Honduras, thereby bridging the previously noted distribution gap for this taxon in Central America.Conclusions: The recording of this species suggests the possible finding of other unrecorded taxa, revealing an information gap regarding the poten-tial dark diversity of this group in the country.