First record of the fern Amblovenatum opulentum (Thelypteridaceae) in natural environments of Argentina and typification of the name

Abstract

The occurrence, establishment and spread of invasive plant species represent one of the major threats to the conservation of natural ecosystems. This paper reports for the first time the presence of Amblovenatum opulentum (Thelypteridaceae) growing in the wild in Argentina and provides the typification of the name. The species is native to tropical Africa and Asia and has been reported as naturalized and widely invasive across the tropical and subtropical Neotropics. During field trips conducted in 2025 and 2026 in the Punta Lara Nature Reserve, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, two populations of A. opulentum were discovered. They were found growing terrestrially in the understory of the mixed riparian forest, a microhabitat that supports most reserve’s native fern populations. Given Amblovenatum opulentum is widely cultivated in central and eastern Argentina, it has the potential to become invasive in the absence of appropriate monitoring and management measures.