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Home , Adiantum philippense, Aleuritopteris, Bolbitis, Cheilanthoideae, Christella, Cyrtomium

A STUDY ON FLORA OF ADUKKAM HILLS OF SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CYTOLOGICAL AND ETHNOMEDICINAL ASPECTS

The Thesis submitted to the Madurai Kamaraj University for the Partial fulfillment of the Degree of the Doctor of Philosophy in BOTANY

By P.POUNRAJ (Reg. No. F9405)

Under the Supervision of Dr.K. SURESH., M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.,

MADURAI KAMARAJ UNIVERSITY (University with Potential for Excellence) MADURAI-625 021,

NOVEMBER 2019 Name of the Canditate: P.Pounraj

A STUDY ON PTERIDOPHYTE FLORA OF ADUKKAM HILLS OF SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CYTOLOGICAL AND ETHNOMEDICINAL ASPECTS

INTRODUCTION

Pteridophytes ( and Lycophytes) are non-flowering cryptogams that reproduce by formation of spores. They are primitive vascular dominated the earth during carboniferous period. Although angiosperms and gymnosperms are the dominant plants of earth today, lycophytes and ferns are still an important component of the community in the forest ecosystem. There are numerous records of fossil lycophytes and ferns throughout the world, including India

(Agrawal & Danai, 2017). Since water is essential for fertilization, they first diversified in the humid areas, especially in tropical regions and spread to the other parts of the world (Skog, 2001). During the course of evolution, a large number of in this plant group have become extinct, but a good number of species gradually evolved into the modern . The actual number of species of Pteridophytes on the earth is not known, but total explored species until the early years of this century are 13025 (Baillie et al., 2004). In India more than 1100 species of Pteridophytes were reported (Fraser-Jenkins, 2012).

In India, out of total 108,276 identified species of microorganism, plants and animals, producers, consumers and decomposers constitute 29.6%, 58.4% and

22.0% respectively. India is a very important biodiversity center with over 167 important cultivated plant species and some domesticated animals. Out of the 18

Hot spots in the world, India has two, i.e. Eastern Himalayan region and Western

Ghats. Both the areas contain 5332 endemic species of higher plants (3500 plus

1600 respectively), mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

The Western Ghats comprises about 320 species of Pteridophytes with more species diversity in the southern part. The major families of pteridophytes found in the Western Ghats are , , , ,

Selaginellaceae, etc. Whereas on the generic level, maximum diversity is observed in the Selaginella, Asplenium, , Deparia, Diplazium, etc.

The Western Ghats also harbors endemic species like manickamii, Cyathea nilgiriensis, Bolbitis semicordata, Selaginella radicata, etc.

The habitat of the pteridophytes consists of microclimatic conditions with special preference for moist and shady places and a minor disturbance in their microclimate conditions can lead to loss of large number of species. However, deforestation and increasing man made activities have caused the elimination of the habitats which is posing a serious threat to the pteridophytes of Western

Ghats and many endangered pteridophytes like Psilotum nudum, Tectaria zeylanica, Lindsaea malabarica, rufa, etc. The tribal and local communities of Adukkam hills have appreciable knowledge about various kinds of uses of common and wild plant species. In that area, some common Pteridophytes are administered in the primary health care system (mostly by the Paliyar tribal community). The lack of knowledge on utility of Pteridophytes compared to angiosperms could be benefit to the occurrence of most of these plants in undisturbed, evergreen forests or mountains or rocky places, which are often inaccessible to the local peoples. With this background the present study mainly aims to re-explore and to make monitoring of the pteridophytes of the

Adukkam Hills of the Western Ghats after quarter century from the publication of

Pteridophyte book by Manickam and Irudayaraj (1992).

Objectives :

To make intense field survey to study the diversity and ecology of

Pteridophytes of Adukkam Hills.

To study the cytology of ferns of Adukkam Hills.

To make ethno-medicinal survey on Pteridophytes of Adukkam Hills.

To identify rare and endangered Pteridophytes on the Western Ghats by

Threat Value analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Floristic study:

An extensive and intensive field study was carried out between 2015 to 2019. The collected and preserved specimens were identified using keys and description from taxonomic literature with the help of floras such as Manickam and Irudayaraj (1992) and Khullar (1994). The identified plant specimens were then confirmed with the herbaria of Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Southern

Circle,Coimbatore, India. In the present study the recent community -derived classification of extant lycophytes and ferns by Schneider et al (2016) has been followed.

Cytological study:

For cytological studies young sporophylls for meiosis and crosiers with young leaf tips for mitosis were fixed in Carynoy’s fluid (Absolute Alcohol:

Chloroform: Acetic Acid 6:3:1). To observe both mitotic and meiotic chromosomes the routine Acetocarmine squash technique was followed. For cytological and micromorphological observations Lawrence Myo binocular digital research

Microscope was used. Each and every photomicrographs are provided with measurement scale.

Ethnomedicinal Survey:

The fieldwork in the tribal settlements of Adukkam Hills was commenced from July 2015 to March 2018. They were consulted to gather ethnobotanical information suggested by Jain (1987). The information was collected through questionnaire, interviews and discussion among the tribal people in their local language, Tamil. The questionnaire allowed descriptive responses on the plant prescribed, such as part of the plant used, medicinal uses, detailed information about mode of preparation (i.e., decoction, paste, powder and juice),form of usage either fresh or dried and method of application.

Classification:

The “Community - derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns” developed by the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group has been followed in the present study. In the present study the recent community -derived classification of extant lycophytes and ferns by Schneider et al (2016) has been followed.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

With the aims to study the , cytology and ethnobotany of lycophytes and ferns from the Adukkam Hills of the Western Ghats, South India, intense field studies were carried out in different seasons from 2015 to 2019. After completing the first phase of taxonomical studies during the first year, cytological studies were carried out during 2015-2019. Ethnobotanical study was also carried out during the first phase along with the taxonomical studies.

The survey of Pteridophytes from Adukkam Hills, shows the presence of 59 species under 38 genera. Manickam (1986) reported 135 species under 64 genera from whole area of Palni Hills. Thus the present study on Pteridophyte flora of

Adukkam Hills, which is a small part of Palni Hills, shows the presence of 59 % genera and 44% species of entire Palni Hills. The dominant family is Pteridaceae with the presence of 15 species under eight genera (Sub family – 6 sp., Sub family – 5 species and – 4 species) followed by Aspleniaceae (6 species under one genus) and (5 species under three genera).

Manickam (1986) has not collected several ferns from Palni Hills from where Bir and Vasudeva (1971) have reported several ferns. philippense

L. which was not reported by Manickam (1986) has been encountered in the present study from Adukkam Hills. Dr. F. M. Jarrett commented, in the book of Manickam (1986), that A. philippense L. not otherwise recorded from Palnis but possible.

Out of 59 species of Pteridophytes from Adukkam Hills, Marsilea minuta L. is the only aquatic species and all the other 58 species are terrestrials, lithophytes or epiphytes. The following four species are lithophytes: Selaginella wightii

Hieron, wollenweberi Fraser-Jenk, concolor (Langsd.et

Fish.) Kuhn, Mickelopteris cordata (Roxb. ex Hook. &Grev.) Fraser-Jenk and the following eight species are lithophytes or epiphytes: Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C.

Presl, Pyrrosia lanceolata (L.) Farwell, Pyrrosia heterophylla(L.) M. Price,

Pyrrosia porosa (C. Presl) Hovenkamp, Aglaomorpha quercifolia(L.)

Hovenkamp& S. Linds, Lepisorus nudus (Hook.) Ching, decurrens

Blume, punctatum (L.) Copel.)

Among 59 species of Pteridophytes of the present study, Angiopteris helferiana C. Presl Cyathea nilgirensis Holtt and Diplazium polypodioides Bl. are larger ferns with more than a meter long fronds. Others are small or medium sized plants. Among the 59 species, one species namely Cythea nilgirensis is endemic to south India but it is least concerned category of IUCN (Irudayaraj 2011 ). Three species namely Selaginella wightii, Cheilanthes opposita and Pteris confusa are confined to South India and Sri Lanka (Manickam &Irudayaraj 1992, Fraser Jenkins et al.) The species of the present study, Cyrtomium micropterum, has been reported as a solitary or gregarious species in dense riparian forests of Palni Hills

(Manickam 1986). Globally this species is a rare one with the occurrence in Africa and South India (Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2018).

Out of 59 species of Pteridophytes collected from Adukkam Hills, 16 species have been cytologically investigated. Of the 16 species, nine species are sexual

(three diploids, four tetraploids, one octaploid, one unknown ploidy but with regular meiosis), five species are apogamous (one diploid and four triploid) and two hybrid species (one with regular meiosis and one with irregular meiosis). It is remarkable to note that the hybrid of Christella with irregular lobing of pinnae is with regular meiosis with the indication that it may be of hybrid between two closely related species. It is very clear that the non-variegated diploid apogamous form of bipinnate Pteris species of South India and Sri Lanka is Pteris confusa T.G.

Walker and the triploid apogamous is Pteris gongalensis T. G. Walker. Except the report of Walker (1962) from Sri Lanka, there is no other report of triploid apogamous under the name Pteris gongalensis.

Manickam and Irudayaraj (1988) have reported a 3x apogamous in an unidentified species of bipinnate non-variegated Pteris. Thus the present cytological report of Pteris gongalensis is the first report from India.

As part of the exhaustive field survey on ethnomedicinal Pteridophytes was also carried out in Adukkam Hills of Southern Western Ghats. A total of 20 species of Ferns and Allies belonging to 17 genera and 12 families have been recorded in the work. It is observed during the fields' investigation that the medicine men can easily find out difference between Ferns and Angiosperm.

Ethnomedicinal information was gathered for twenty Pteridophytes which are used to treat chest complaints, fever, elephantiasis, cold, sore throat, hair fall, diabetic etc., and also has anti Antihelminthic, Astringent, Antibacterial and Anti- inflammatory properties. In the present study fronds and whole plants are mainly used to cure ailments.

The documentation of traditional knowledge through ethnomedicinal studies is important for conservation and utilization of biological resources. The present study highlights the medicinal uses of Pteridophytes by the local inhabitants in the treatment of their diseases and ailments. A total of 20 species belonging to 12 families were documented. Out of 20 Pteridophytes documented 18 are ferns, while Lycopodiella cernua (L.) Pic. Serm. and Selaginella involvens (Sw.) Spring are fern allies. In addition to medicinal uses, Pteridophytes are also used as food, shelter and ornamentals.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

An attempt has been made to study the pteridophytic flora of Adukkam Hills,

Dindigul district with respect to taxonomy, distribution and mapping of endemic, rare and threatened pteridophytic species. An intensive and extensive collection cum survey tours were conducted during the period of doctoral studies, in the widespread localities of Adukkam hills, Dindigul district, based on herbarium consultation of Botanical survey of India herbaria. This has resulted in collection of 59 species belonging to 38 genera of pteridophytes from Adukkam Hills,

Dindigul district For the present investigation, materials were collected from different localities of Adukkam hills, Dindigul district Photographs of pteridophytes and sori were taken in field itself. These collected species were preserved in the form of Herbarium specimens by using standard protocol. The herbariums were deposited in Saraswathi Narayanan College, Madurai , Herbarium

(SNC). The specimens were analyzed, illustrated and identified by using standard literature, protologues, and types.

The intensive field survey on Adukkam Hills shows the presence of three lycophytes under two genera (Lycopodiella and Selaginella) and 56 ferns under 36 genera which have been classified and presented based on PPG

(Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group, 2016) classification system. Among 56 ferns, 26

(nearly 50%) are from three dominant families namely Pteridaceae, Aspleniaceae and Dryopteridaceae. Endemic, rare, threatened ferns like Cyathea nilgirensis,

Microlepia platyphylla and Cyrtomium micropterum have also been recorded from

Adukkam Hills.

Sixteen ferns of Adukkam Hills have been cytologically investigated based on meiosis and or mitosis. Five species are either diploid or triploid apomict and the remaining eleven species are sexuals of various ploidy from 2x to 16x. The meiotic chromosome number ranges from n=30 to n=116.Pyrrosia heterophylla showed regular meiosis without any metaphase stage and Leptochilus decurrens showed irregular meiosis without any clear countable metaphasic stage. The triploid apomictic member of Pteris quadriaurita complex has been cytologically worked out for the first time from India under the correct name, Pteris gongalensis

T. G. Walker.

Based on ethnomedicinal survey, it has been observed that two lycophytes and 18 ferns of Adukkam Hills are ethnomedicinally important ones to treat various health problems from ordinary fever and cold to elephantiasis and chest pain. Thus nearly one third of lycophytes and ferns of Adukkam Hills are medicinally important ones.

The present study proves that the small area of unexplored Adukkam Hills which is a part of Palni Hills of the Western Ghats, are rich in lycophytes and ferns with several medicinally important plants which face threatening due to the lay down of new road from Periakulam to Adukkam on 2018. In this context the present study will serve as a periodical monitoring of biodiversity on the Western

Ghats which face lot of threats for biodiversity due to the destruction of forests for the construction of dams, roads, buildings etc.