J. Jpn. Bot. 92(1): 57–61 (2017)

a, b Sachin Patil * and Meena Dongare : Genus Aleuritopteris (Pteridaceae) from Northern Western Ghats, India aDepartment of Botany, Vijaysinh Yadav, Arts and Science College, Peth-Vadgoan, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, INDIA; bLaboratory of Pteridology, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, INDIA *Corresponding author: [email protected]

Summary: During the present investigation a Materials and Methods fern genus Aleuritopteris Fée was studied from Field visits were carried out from June northern Western Ghats, India. About four species 2010 to December 2013 for the collection of of Aleuritopteris were collected, of which A. rufa Aleuritopteris species from Northern Western (D. Don) Ching was collected for the first time Ghats. It includes western parts of Maharashtra, and reported as a new record for Western Ghats. Northern part of Uttar Kannada district of Notes on the species description, range and a Karnataka state and Goa states (Fig. 1). The phytogeographical note of the species are given along with a key to the species. collected specimens are preserved in Herbarium, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Aleuritopteris Fée, previously treated Kolhapur and identified by using the floristic as Cheilanthes subg. Aleuritopteris (Fée) accounts of Beddome (1884), Blatter and W. C. Shieh, and all the species, except A. d’Almedia (1922), Dixit (1984), Manickam and stenochlamys Ching ex S. K. Wu, have names Irudayaraj (1992) and Fraser-Jenkins (2008). in the genus Cheilanthes. However, the name Aleuritopteris has been recognized by Ching Taxonomic treatment and Wu (1983) and other Chinese pteridologists Key to the species of Aleuritopteris (Fraser-Jenkins and Dulawat 2009). It is a 1a. Fronds densely covered with dark brown distinct isolated genus of cheilanthoid ferns in hairs ...... 4. A. rufa the family Pteridaceae, commonly known as 1a. Fronds glabrous ...... 2 “floury bread or silver ferns” due to the presence 2a. Lamina deltoid or triangular ...... 2. A. anceps of white, or sometimes yellow flavonoid farina 2b. Lamina oblong- or ovate-lanceolate ...... 3 beneath the lamina. The species are usually well- 3a. Rachis covered with hairs throughout ...... marked and readily distinguishable by their ...... 1. A. albomarginata stipe-scales (bicolorous or concolorous) and their 3b. Rachis glabrous except for the part of stipe . distribution on the axes, though most were at one ...... 3. A. bicolor time referred to the African and Arabian species. Based on molecular data, the genus comprises 1. Aleuritopteris albomarginata (C. B. 70 species out of which India has 20 species Clarke) Ching in Hong Kong Naturalist 10: (Khullar 1994, Fraser-Jenkins 1997, 2008). 109 (1941); Ghosh & al., Pterid. Fl. E. Ind.: 401 During the present investigation four species (2004); Fraser-Jenk., Taxon. Rev. Ind. Subcont. were collected. Amongst these Aleuritopteris Pterid.: 126 (2008). rufa (D. Don) Ching was recognized for the first Cheilanthes albomarginata C. B. Clarke time and reported as a new distributional record in Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 456, t. 52 for Western Ghats, India. (1880). Aleuritopteris subrufa (Baker) Ching in

—57— February 2017 The Journal of Japanese Botany Vol. 92 No. 1 61 rounded to acuminate; pinnae with 5–8 lobes Authors are very much thankful to the Head, in pairs, herbaceous or leathery, green, covered Department of Botany, Shivaji University, with multicellular hairs and white powdery Kolhapur for providing laboratory facilities. wax on the lower side, opposite or subopposite, sessile, basal lobe acroscopic, middle pinnae References oblong, round at apex, adnate at base, lower Beddome R. H. 1883. A Handbook to the Ferns of British India, Ceylon and Malay Peninsula. Thackar Spink & larger pinnule is oblong, subdeltoid, falcate; vein Co, Calcutta (reprint ed. 1978, Today and Tomorrows dichotomously branched ends freely, reaches Printers and Publishers, New Delhi). towards the margin; vein and veinlets are Blatter E. and d’Almeida J. F. 1922. The Ferns of Bombay. covered with hairs; sori marginal to submarginal, D B Taraporevala and Sons & Co, Bombay. Ching R. C. and Wu S. K. 1983. Pteridophytes. In: Wu along veinlets, protected by reflexed margin, C. Y. (ed.), Flora Xizangica 1: 1–355. Science Press, which ruptures at maturity, appearing more or Beijing (in Chinese). less continuous; spores 23–28 µm in diameter, Dixit R. D. 1984. A Census of Indian Pteridophytes, Flora round, somewhat triangular to globose, exine of India. Botanical Survey of India, Howarh. much folded, irregular. Fraser-Jenkins C. R. 1997. New Species Syndrome in Indian Pteridology and the Ferns of Nepal, and Two Locality: Maharashtra – Satara: Kas, Errata. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun. Panchgani and Medha Ghat. Fraser-Jenkins C. R. 2008. Taxonomic Revision of Three Conservation status: Aleuritopteris rufa (D. Hundred Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes with a Don.) Ching was collected from Kas, Panchgani Revised Census List. A New Picture of Fern Taxonomy and Nomenclature in the Indian Subcontinent. Bishen and Medha Ghat regions situated in Northern Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun. Western Ghats of India. A population of about Fraser-Jenkins C. R. and Dulawat C. S. 2009. A summary 100 individuals was found per locality. The area of Indian cheilanthoid ferns and the discovery of of occupancy is 0.5–1 km2 per locality. Hence, it Negripteris (Pteridaceae), an Afro-Arabian fern genus is assessed as critically endangered (CE) species new to India. Fern Gaz. 18: 216–229. IUCN 2001. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: following the IUCN categories and criteria Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission. (IUCN 2001). IUCN, Gland. Specimens examined: INDIA. Maharashtra, Satara Khullar S. P. 1994. An Illustrated Fern Flora of West Dt., Panchgani, S. M. Patil (SUK 20035); Panchgani, S. M. Himalaya Vol. 1. International Book Distributors, Patil (BLAT 0001). Dehra Dun.

a b S. Patil ，M. Dongare ：インド・北部ウエスタンガーツ 山脈のヒメウラジロ属（イノモトソウ科） インド・北部ウエスタンガーツ山脈のヒメウラジロ （aインド・Arts and Science College 属（イノモトソウ科）を調べたところ，4 種が得られた． Department of Botany， こ の う ち，Aleuritopteris rufa (D. Don) Ching は ウ エ bインド・Shivaji University スタンガーツ山脈での新記録である．ここではこれら 4 Department of Botany Laboratory of Pteridology） 種の検索表，各種の異名，記載，分布域などを示した．