During my studies of ferns and lycophytes for the Flora of Cuba, I found a species of Polystichopsis that was originally described in Phegopteris by Eaton (1860). Later, it was treated as variety of both Dryopteris lurida Jenman ex Underw. (Christensen, 1920) and D. chaerophylloides (Poir.) C. Chr. (Christensen, 1936). This species belongs to Polystichopsis because of its creeping rhizomes, distichous leaves, decompound laminae, and long straightish, white hairs on the leaves. It seems readily distinct from other species of Polystichopsis by the narrow form of its blade and long (1–2 mm) hairs on the rachises and costa abaxially. In particular, it differs from the similar P. chaerophylloides, which also occurs in Cuba, by more divided laminae, smaller and narrower segments, margins sometimes merely sinuate, and the teeth less acute. Compared to P. chaerophylloides, the lateral veins are less evident and the laminae are thinner and brownish when dry, not deep green. Geographically, P. chaerophylloides is widespread in the Caribbean region, but the taxon combined below is endemic to eastern Cuba and grows between 750–1000 m. Because the Cuban plant belongs to Polystichopsis and seems amply distinct from other species in the genus, it is recognized here at the rank of species. This new combination is needed for an upcoming monograph of the genus by Robbin Moran and Jefferson Prado.

New combination and lectotypification

Polystichopsis sericea (Mett. ex D. C. Eaton) C. Sánchez, comb. nov. Phegopteris sericea Mett. ex D. C. Eaton, Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts n.s. 8: 208. 1860. Dryopteris lurida Jenman ex Underw. & Maxon var. sericea (Mett.) C. Chr., Kongel. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., Naturvidensk. Math. Afd., ser. 8, 6: 107. 1920. Dryopteris chaerophylloides (Poir.) C. Chr. var. sericea (Mett. ex D. C. Eaton) C. Chr., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl., n.s. 16(2): 36. 1936. Polystichopsis lurida (Jenman ex Underw. & Maxon) C. V. Morton var. sericea (Mett ex D.C. Eaton) Duek., Adansonia 11: 724. 1971. Type: Cuba. Santiago de Cuba: La Guinea, Sep 1859, C. Wright 1054 (lectotype, designated here: YU barcode YU.000773; isolectotypes: B barcode B200059122, BM barcode BM001079698, K barcode K000590367, GH barcodes GH000211761, GH00415549, MO, accession no. 1872629, P barcode P01443882, UC barcode UC35419).

Distribution.—Eastern Cuba (Sierra Maestra Range); rocky woods, 750–1000 m.