Pteris Faba and Pteris rubella, two new species in section Hypsopodium (Pteridaceae)

Pteris sect. Hypsopodium (Pteridaceae) was reported to contain about nine species. Here we describe two new species based on morphological and molecular evidence, namely Pteris faba Y.S.Chao sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, and Pteris rubella Y.S.Chao & C.W.Chen sp. nov. from the Solomon Islands. We provide type information, voucher specimens used, distribution, details of habitats and photographs showing diagnostic characters for both species. With the two new species recognised in this study, and three other species newly resolved as members of Pteris section Hypsopodium (Pteris mertensioides, P. polylepis, and P. quinquepartita) the number of species in section Hypsopodium increases to 14, with most species distributed in Asia and Oceania. Pteris section Hypsopodium can be distinguished from other sections by having bipinnate laminae in combination with red-brown rachises.