Potential Ornamental Pteridophytes from Adimali Region of Idukki District, Kerala, India

Priya Ramachandran. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 5 / 2014 / 300-305.

e ISSN 2277 - 3290 Print ISSN 2277 - 3282 Journal of Science Botany

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POTENTIAL ORNAMENTAL PTERIDOPHYTES FROM ADIMALI REGION OF IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA

1Priya Ramachandran, 1Binu Thomas*, 2Sonia Abraham and 1Varghese, M.C.

1PG Department of Botany, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad,Kottayam - 686 633, Kerala, India. 2Department of Botany, St. Dominic’s College, Kanjirapally, Kottayam – 686 512, Kerala, India.

ABSTRACT The present study resulted in the documentation of 25 ornamental pteridophytes belonging to 17 families and 17 genera. Among these 25 families of ornamental pteridophytes Adiantaceae and Selaginellaceae is the dominant ones with 4 species each followed by Pteridaceae and Aspleniacae with 2 species each. More over this group of plants has least been exploited for the ornamental purpose, hence this present study may be useful for further exploration of fern and fern allies found in this area.

Keywords: Ornamental, Pteridophytes, Adimali, Idukki District, Kerala.

INTRODUCTION The pteridophytes are non-flowering, vascular taxonomic oddities but also those are plants with dynamic and spore-bearing plants including ferns and fern-allies. relationship to their environment [5]. They form a conspicuous element of the earth’s Fern and fern allies are fascinating group of vegetation and are important from evolutionary point of pteridophytes, which is almost distributed in Himalaya, view as they show the evolution of vascular system and Western Ghats, and Eastern Ghats. They usually prefer reflect the emergence of seed habit in the plants [1]. They shady, moist habitats with moderate temperature but also grow luxuriantly in moist tropical and temperate forests occur throughout a very diverse range of habitats from and their occurrence in different eco-geographically high altitude to lower altitudes. Most of the pteridophytes threatened regions from sea level to the highest mountains are used as ornamental plants for indoor and domestic are of much interest [2]. The pteridophytes form a garden practices. More over these groups of plants are connecting link between the lower group of plants and the also shows medicinal utility and many of them are being higher group of seed bearing plants and hence are placed used medicinally from ancient time [6]. between bryophyte and higher vascular plants i.e., gymnosperms and angiosperms [3]. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pteridophytes makes an important contribution Study area to the earth plants diversity, being the second group of Adimali Panchayat of Idukki District, Kerala vascular plants of ancient or primitive land plants with Adimali region (9° 29' 50.4276 N & 76° 36' 37. worldwide distribution. These are the oldest land plant 6632 E) of Idukki district, Kerala is the major hill station groups on earth and constitute a vast group of vascular of the state with rich floristic elements. Adimali has a cryptogams. About 250 million years ago, they tropical climate with significant rainfall. The difference in constituted the dominant vegetation on earth surface [4]. precipitation between the driest month and the wettest Moreover pteridophytes may comprise a significant month is 450 mm. The driest month is January-April with component of the forest ecosystem. Ferns have 22 mm. Most precipitation falls in June-July, with an measurable indications that may reflect the effects of average of 472 mm. The temperature profile of this region change in environmental factors. The ferns are not only shows that, the average annual temperature in Adimali

Corresponding Author:-Binu Thomas Email:[email protected]

Priya Ramachandran. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 5 / 2014 / 300-305.

area is about 24.8 °C. The warmest month of the year is The present study resulted in the documentation April with an average temperature of 32.9 °C. While in of 25 ornamental pteridophytes (Table 1) belonging to 17 December, the average temperature is 20.4 °C. It is the families and 17 genera. Among these 25 families of lowest average temperature of the whole year [7] (Pl.1- ornamental pteridophytesAdiantaceae and Selaginellaceae A,B,C). is the dominant ones with 4 species each followed by Pteridaceae and Aspleniacae with 2 species each and all Documentation other families have 1 species. Most of these ornamental An extensive and intensive field trips were pteridophytes possess attractive habit and fronds. The conducted during the year 2013 – 2014. During the field domestication and landscape practices of such potential visits, the plant specimens were collected at different ornamental ferns are attracted attention to both rural and reproductive stages to prepare herbarium specimens and urban communities. Besides the economic values, a large authenticate their correct identity. The collected number of them are cultivated for their ornamental value specimens were identified taxonomically with the help of either in indoors of the houses or outdoors in the botanical available floras [8,9] and by using field keys. The gardens due to their delicate beauty and grace [11]. The specimens were poisoned, pressed and the herbarium potential ornamental ferns from Nilgiri district of specimens prepared according to the standard instructions Tamilnadu was analysed by Sonia et al. [12]. According given by Jain and Rao[10]. The voucher specimens were their observation, there are about 20 potential ferns were deposited at the Herbarium of Department of Botany, documented and suggested for both indoor and domestic Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, Kottayam for future gardening practices. The ferns are least studied in the reference. ornamental point of view from the Western Ghats region especially from the Kerala side. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. List of Ornamental Potential plants from Adimali region of Idukki District, Kerala, India SI.No. Botanical Name Family Ornamental Potentiality 1 Actiniopteris radiata (Sw.) Link (Pl.2-A) Actiniopteridaceae Palm like attractive fronds. 2 Adiantum capillus - veneris L. (Pl.2-B) Adiantaceae Beautiful fronds. Attractive fronds with crescent 3 Adiantum hispidulum Sw. Adiantaceae shaped sori. Adiantaceae Black wiry stem looks like “maiden 4 Adiantum lunulatum Burm. hair”. 5 Adiantum raddianum C. Presl. (Pl.2-C) Adiantaceae Attractive fronds. 6 Asplenium hindusthanensis Bir. Aspleniaceae Good looking habit. Aspleniaceae Good looking appearance of the 7 Asplenium teunifolium D. Don. (Pl.2-D) plant. Beautiful appearance in aquatic 8 Azolla pinnata R.Br. Azollaceae habitats. Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f) Underw. Dicranopteridaceae 9 Attractive fronds. (Pl.2-E) Drynaria quercifolia (L) J. Sm. Drynariaceae Grown as indoor plant due to its 10 (Pl.2-F) attractive fronds and sori. 11 LycopodiumJaponicum Thunb. (Pl.3-A) Lycopodiaceae Attractive fronds and strobilus. 12 Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw. Lygodiaceae Climbing fern with attractive foliage “Water fern”, Good looking floating 13 Marsilea minuta L. (Pl.3-B) Marsileaceae habits. 14 Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen Nephrolepidaceae Attractive fronds. 15 Odontosoria chinensis (L.) J. Sm. (Pl.3-C) Lindsaeaceae Beautiful fern with thin fronds. Due to an attractive fronds, this fern Parahemionitis cordata (Roxb. ex Hook. 16 Hemionitidaceae is commonly known as “Rabbit’s ear &Grev.) Fras. (Pl.3-D) fern”. Polystichum harpophyllum (Zenker ex Kunze) 17 Dryopteridaceae Attractive fronds. Sledge 18 Psilotum nudum (L.) P. Beauv. Psilotaceae Attractive habit and synangia. Pteridaceae It is the “Golden fern” with attractive 19 Pteris argyraea T. Moore in Gard. fronds.

Priya Ramachandran. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 5 / 2014 / 300-305.

20 Pteris biaurita L. (Pl.3-E) Pteridaceae Attractive fronds. 21 Salvinia molesta Mitch. Br Salviniaceae Water fern with attractive habit. Selaginella brachystachya (Hook. &Grev.) 22 Selaginellaceae Attractive dark green fronds. Spring Dark brown stem with attractive 23 Selaginella delicatula (Desv.) Alston Selaginellaceae fronds. Selaginella inaequalifolia (Hook. &Grev.) Selaginellaceae 24 Good looking habit. Spring 25 Selaginella involvens (Sw.) Spring (Pl.3-F) Selaginellaceae Attractive fronds and sporophylls.

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CONCLUSION gardens. Pteridophytes by virtue of their possessing great Pteridophytes are the oldest group of plants. But variety and fascinating foliage have drawn the attention they are the advanced flora among the cryptogams due to and admiration of horticulturalists and plant lovers for presence of vascular structures and heterosporus nature. centuries. This group of plants has least been exploited for These groups of plants are always interesting to botanists the ornamental purpose, hence this present study may be as well as layman for their nature of habit and habitat. useful for further exploration of fern and fern allies found Ferns have got great aesthetic value for their elegant in this area. Such ecologically and economically valuable fronds and good looking habit. A large number of them group of plants like pteridophytes are to be conserved for are cultivated as ornamental plants in houses and botanic future generation.

Priya Ramachandran. et al. / Journal of Science / Vol 4 / Issue 5 / 2014 / 300-305.

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