Nomenclatural notes on overlooked fern names validated by Alexander Braun

A survey of 19th century botanical literature revealed an overlooked publication by Alexander Braun entitled Ueber fossile Goniopteris-Arten. The paper discussed the relationships between some fossil ferns and their extant counterparts. Three names of extant ferns (Polypodium macropus, Polypodium lineatum and Aspidium fecundum) were validated by A. Braun in this work. All three names are applicable to fern species currently placed in the family Thelypteridaceae. Lectotypes are proposed here for those three names. Their current application and nomenclatural consequences of their validation by A. Braun are discussed. It is concluded that Polypodium macropus is the earliest valid and legitimate name for the taxon currently known as Goniopteris macropus and it thus provides the basionym for the latter name. The name Polypodium lineatum is applicable to the species currently known as Menisciopsis penangiana. Consequently, a new combination, Menisciopsis lineata, is proposed to replace the name M. penangiana following the priority rule. The third name, Aspidium fecundum, is placed in the synonymy of Cyclosorus interruptus.