Systematic Revision of Pteris and Ecology of Ferns in Lowland Tropical

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Systematic Revision of Pteris and Ecology of Ferns in Lowland Tropical SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF PTERIS L. IN TROPICAL AFRICA AND ECOLOGY OF FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES IN LOWLAND TROPICAL RAINFORESTS Dissertation Zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Naturwissenschaft des Fachbereich 3: Mathematik/Naturwissenschaften der Universität Koblenz-Landau Germany October 2012 Peris Wangari Kamau Referent: Prof. Dr. Eberhard Fischer Korreferent: Prof. Dr. Maximilian Weigend SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF PTERIS L. IN TROPICAL AFRICA AND ECOLOGY OF FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES IN LOWLAND TROPICAL RAINFORESTS Dissertation Zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Naturwissenschaft des Fachbereich 3: Mathematik/Naturwissenschaften der Universität Koblenz-Landau Germany October 2012 Peris Wangari Kamau Referent: Prof. Dr. Eberhard Fischer Korreferent: Prof. Dr. Maximilian Weigend ii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... III LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. VI LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. VII LIST OF ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................... VIII SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... IX CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1 1.1 Study objectives............................................................................................................. 11 1.2 Research hypotheses ..................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2. TAXONOMIC SURVEY OF THE GENUS PTERIS .................................. 12 2.1 History and conspectus of Pteris in Africa ................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................ 17 3.1 Morphological studies................................................................................................... 17 3.1.1 Phenetics ................................................................................................................................ 17 3.1.2 Phylogeny ............................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.3 Conservation .......................................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 4. RESULTS ...................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Morphology ................................................................................................................... 26 4.1.1 Rhizome ................................................................................................................................. 26 4.1.2 Frond ...................................................................................................................................... 26 4.1.3 Stipe ........................................................................................................................................ 27 4.1.4 Lamina .................................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.5 Lobe apices ............................................................................................................................ 28 4.1.6 Indumentum .......................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.7 Venation ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.1.8 Sori .......................................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Cytology ........................................................................................................................ 29 4.3 Phenetic analysis ........................................................................................................... 30 4.4 Phylogenetic analysis .................................................................................................... 32 iii CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ......................................................... 36 5.1 Phenetic observations ................................................................................................... 36 5.2 Phylogenetic relationships ............................................................................................ 38 5.3 Conclusion and recommendations ............................................................................... 39 5.4 Systematic treatment of Pteris of tropical Africa .......................................................... 41 CHAPTER 6. ECOLOGY OF FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES IN TROPICAL LOWLAND RAINFORESTS OF KAKAMEGA AND BUDONGO ........................................................ 73 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 73 6.1.1 Patterns of ferns and lycophytes richness in African countries ........................................ 74 6.1.2 Ferns as indicators of ecosystem health .............................................................................. 77 6.1.3 Research questions and hypothesis ...................................................................................... 78 6.2 Study Areas .................................................................................................................... 79 6.2.1 Kakamega Forest ................................................................................................................... 79 6.2.2 Budongo Forest ..................................................................................................................... 83 6.3 Field sampling .............................................................................................................. 85 6.4 Data analysis ................................................................................................................. 87 6.4.1 Sampling effort and species estimation ............................................................................... 87 6.4.2 Beta-diversity ......................................................................................................................... 87 6.5 Results ........................................................................................................................... 89 6.5.1 Estimation of species richness and sampling effort ........................................................... 89 6.5.2 Community Structure ............................................................................................................ 91 6.5.3 Species richness and occurrences in Kakamega and Budongo forests ............................. 93 6.5.4 Species distribution and diversity in different study sites .................................................. 95 6.5.4.1 Richness and β-diversity .............................................................................................. 95 6.5.4.2 Floristic dissimilarity estimates in Kakamega and Budongo forests ........................ 97 6.5.5 Taxonomic composition ....................................................................................................... 99 6.5.6 Life form composition .......................................................................................................... 99 6.6 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 102 6.6.1 Sampling effort and species estimation ............................................................................. 102 6.6.2 Diversity patterns ................................................................................................................ 105 6.6.3 Species richness and distribution of diversity ................................................................... 106 6.6.4 Taxonomic composition ..................................................................................................... 111 6.6.5 Life-form composition........................................................................................................ 112 6.6.5.1 Terrestrial species....................................................................................................... 112 6.6.5.2 Epiphytic ferns ........................................................................................................... 113 6.6.5.3 Lithophytes ................................................................................................................. 117 6.6.6 Environmental factors and fern species richness in Kakamega and Budongo forests.. 117 6.6.7 Ferns as bioindicators of forest conditions ....................................................................... 119 6.6.7.1 Ferns of disturbed sites ............................................................................................. 120 6.6.7.2 Riverine fern species .................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • ^ a Critical Examination of the Vittarieae with a View To
    / P u n -t/p '& . J9. ^ _ ^ 2 (tO. A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE VITTARIEAE WITH A VIEW TO THEIR SYSTEMATIC COMPARISON. 1. Introduction. 2. Vittaria. 3. Monogramma, 4. Antrophyum. ProQuest Number: 13916247 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 13916247 Published by ProQuest LLC(2019). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 INTRODUCTION. The Vittarieae, as described by Christensen (1), comprises five genera, viz. Vjfrfrftrja, Monogramma,. Antronhvum. Hecistopterist and Anetium. all of whicij are epiphytic forms growing in the damp forests of the Old and New;World Tropics. All of them possess creeping rhizomes on which the frortds are arranged more or less definitely in two rows on the dorsal surface. The fronds are simple in outline with the exception of those of Heoistonteris which are dichotomously branched. The venation of the fronds is reticulate except in Heoistonteris where there is an open, dichotomous system of veins^An interesting feature, which has proved to be valuable as a diagnostic character, is the presence of "spicule cells" in the epidermis.
    [Show full text]
  • "National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary."
    Intro 1996 National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands The Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared a National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary (1996 National List). The 1996 National List is a draft revision of the National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1988 National Summary (Reed 1988) (1988 National List). The 1996 National List is provided to encourage additional public review and comments on the draft regional wetland indicator assignments. The 1996 National List reflects a significant amount of new information that has become available since 1988 on the wetland affinity of vascular plants. This new information has resulted from the extensive use of the 1988 National List in the field by individuals involved in wetland and other resource inventories, wetland identification and delineation, and wetland research. Interim Regional Interagency Review Panel (Regional Panel) changes in indicator status as well as additions and deletions to the 1988 National List were documented in Regional supplements. The National List was originally developed as an appendix to the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin et al.1979) to aid in the consistent application of this classification system for wetlands in the field.. The 1996 National List also was developed to aid in determining the presence of hydrophytic vegetation in the Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland regulatory program and in the implementation of the swampbuster provisions of the Food Security Act. While not required by law or regulation, the Fish and Wildlife Service is making the 1996 National List available for review and comment.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Document
    African countries and neighbouring islands covered by the Synopsis. S T R E L I T Z I A 23 Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands by J.P. Roux Pretoria 2009 S T R E L I T Z I A This series has replaced Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa and Annals of the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens which SANBI inherited from its predecessor organisations. The plant genus Strelitzia occurs naturally in the eastern parts of southern Africa. It comprises three arborescent species, known as wild bananas, and two acaulescent species, known as crane flowers or bird-of-paradise flowers. The logo of the South African National Biodiversity Institute is based on the striking inflorescence of Strelitzia reginae, a native of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal that has become a garden favourite worldwide. It sym- bolises the commitment of the Institute to champion the exploration, conservation, sustain- able use, appreciation and enjoyment of South Africa’s exceptionally rich biodiversity for all people. J.P. Roux South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town SCIENTIFIC EDITOR: Gerrit Germishuizen TECHNICAL EDITOR: Emsie du Plessis DESIGN & LAYOUT: Elizma Fouché COVER DESIGN: Elizma Fouché, incorporating Blechnum palmiforme on Gough Island PHOTOGRAPHS J.P. Roux Citing this publication ROUX, J.P. 2009. Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. ISBN: 978-1-919976-48-8 © Published by: South African National Biodiversity Institute. Obtainable from: SANBI Bookshop, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity of Pteridophytes in Western Ghats
    Plant Archives Volume 21, No 1, 2021 pp. 1115-1129 e-ISSN:2581-6063 (online), ISSN:0972-5210 Plant Archives Journal home page: www.plantarchives.org DOI Url: https://doi.org/10.51470/PLANTARCHIVES.2021.v21.no1.148 DIVERSITY OF PTERIDOPHYTES IN WESTERN GHATS- A REVIEW Athira Krishnan1 and Rekha K.2* 1Department of Botany, Sree Narayana College, Nattika, Thrissur, Kerala, India-680566 2Department of Botany, St. Mary’s College,Thrissur, Kerala, India- 680020. *E-mail: [email protected] (Date of Receiving-28-11-2020 ; Date of Acceptance-19-02-2021) Pteridophytes are vascular cryptogams that dominated the earth 250 million years ago. Currently, there are 13,600 species of pteridophytes around the world, and is the second most dominant plant group. In India, there are 1200 pteridophyte species with 70 families and 192 genera. The pteridophyte hotspots in India are the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Central India, and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. The Western Ghats occupies only 6% of the Indian landmass and still holds a pteridophyte diversity of 383 species. Fern and fern allies are highly sensitive to changes in their natural habitat, thus habitat ABSTRACT destruction, anthropogenic influences, climate change, etc., are causing a fast decline in their population. Epiphytic species are easily destroyed due to the felling of trees and because of this at present 41- 43% of epiphytic pteridophytes in India are reported to be threatened. It necessitates the frequent analysis of the pteridophyte flora of a region to ensure the existence of its species diversity. The potential of in-vitro and ex-situ conservation techniques can be explored for the conservation of threatened pteridophyte species.
    [Show full text]
  • Are the Black Lions of Ethiopia Y to Maul Zambia?
    The Horn Times Sport, 20 January 2013 Match build up; are the black lions of Ethiopia ready to maul Zambia? (By Getahune Bekele, Nelspruit - South Africa.) Despite the annoying mannerism of Ethiopian Football Association boss and top TPLF cadre Sahilu Gebremariam who prevented the players from meeting their passionate fans at the Oliver Tambo air port in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon, the colorful country men and women are streaming to the city of Nelspruit for Monday’s crunch battle against Zambia. Will classy goal poacher Saladin said, leader of the pride Degu Debebe, power house Yared Zenabu and the inspirational Adane Girma catapult Ethiopia, the 1957 runners up and the 1962 winners to glory? Although it is unfair to compare the current crop of players to the 1962 intrepid soldiers of the lion of Judah, they do have what it takes to bring back the glory days of yester year soccer. We are told that the free kick specialist of the black lions who can bend it like David Beckham is defender Abebaw Butako with Saladin deputizing to take those around the 18 yard area. Fuad Ibrahim of Minnesota stars in the US is aiming high to share the goal scoring responsibility with Saladin. Dangerous crosses expected to come from the man known for his electrifying pace, Yusuf Saleh of Syrianska club in Sweden. Our goal keeper, the proven shot stopper Sisaye Bancha will be well protected by the likes of Biadgelegn Elias, Aynalem Hailu, Asrat Megersa, Alula Girma and co while the acrobatic coffee goal minder Jemal Tassew waits on the wings to grab his chance if Bancha fails to stay switched on for the crucial 90 minutes against the Zambians.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
    Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories Compiled by S. Oldfield Edited by D. Procter and L.V. Fleming ISBN: 1 86107 502 2 © Copyright Joint Nature Conservation Committee 1999 Illustrations and layout by Barry Larking Cover design Tracey Weeks Printed by CLE Citation. Procter, D., & Fleming, L.V., eds. 1999. Biodiversity: the UK Overseas Territories. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Disclaimer: reference to legislation and convention texts in this document are correct to the best of our knowledge but must not be taken to infer definitive legal obligation. Cover photographs Front cover: Top right: Southern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome (Richard White/JNCC). The world’s largest concentrations of southern rockhopper penguin are found on the Falkland Islands. Centre left: Down Rope, Pitcairn Island, South Pacific (Deborah Procter/JNCC). The introduced rat population of Pitcairn Island has successfully been eradicated in a programme funded by the UK Government. Centre right: Male Anegada rock iguana Cyclura pinguis (Glen Gerber/FFI). The Anegada rock iguana has been the subject of a successful breeding and re-introduction programme funded by FCO and FFI in collaboration with the National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands. Back cover: Black-browed albatross Diomedea melanophris (Richard White/JNCC). Of the global breeding population of black-browed albatross, 80 % is found on the Falkland Islands and 10% on South Georgia. Background image on front and back cover: Shoal of fish (Charles Sheppard/Warwick
    [Show full text]
  • Low Risk Aquarium and Pond Plants
    Plant Identification Guide Low-risk aquarium and pond plants Planting these in your pond or aquarium is environmentally-friendly. Glossostigma elatinoides, image © Sonia Frimmel. One of the biggest threats to New Zealand’s waterbodies is the establishment and proliferation of weeds. The majority of New Zealand’s current aquatic weeds started out as aquarium and pond plants. To reduce the occurrence of new weeds becoming established in waterbodies this guide has been prepared to encourage the use of aquarium and pond plants that pose minimal risk to waterbodies. Guide prepared by Dr John Clayton, Paula Reeves, Paul Champion and Tracey Edwards, National Centre of Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity, NIWA with funding from the Department of Conservation. The guides will be updated on a regular basis and will be available on the NIWA website: www.niwa.co.nz/ncabb/tools. Key to plant life-forms Sprawling marginal plants. Grow across the ground and out over water. Pond plants Short turf-like plants. Grow in shallow water on the edges of ponds and foreground of aquariums. Includes very small plants (up to 2-3 cm in height). Most species can grow both submerged (usually more erect) and emergent. Pond and aquarium plants Tall emergent plants. Can grow in water depths up to 2 m deep depending on the species. Usually tall reed-like plants but sometimes with broad leaves. Ideal for deeper ponds. Pond plants Free floating plants. These plants grow on the water surface and are not anchored to banks or bottom substrates. Pond and aquarium plants Floating-leaved plants. Water lily-type plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Inorganic Constituents of Two Bolbitis Fern Species from South Western Ghats
    Kale RJLBPCS 2015 www.rjlbpcs.com Life Science Informatics Publications Original Research Article DOI - 10.26479/2015.0104.01 INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS OF TWO BOLBITIS FERN SPECIES FROM SOUTH WESTERN GHATS Manisha V Kale Department of Botany, Jaysingpur College, Jaysingpur 416 101, Maharashtra, India ABSTRACT: Objective: The estimation of inorganic constituents in two Bolbitis species of ferns such as B. virens, B. presliana collected from different localities of South Western Ghats. Methods: For the estimation of inorganic constituents an acid digest method from the oven dried plant material was used as well as the solution was used for estimation of elements & these elements were estimated by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: In this two Bolbitis species studied Ca, Na and K substances are discover to be determined than the other elements. Mg contents are associated with their chlorophyll contents. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu substances are in trace quantity as these are the micronutrients. Conclusion: The two Bolbitis species are particular members of the genus are often grown as immersed water plants in aquaria terrestrial but there is no definite correlation amongst these constituents. This may be due to the seasonal variation, age of the plant at the time of collection, nature of soil. KEYWORDS: Inorganic constituents, Bolbitis species, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu substances. *Corresponding Author: Dr. Manisha V Kale Ph.D. Department of Botany, Jaysingpur College, Jaysingpur 416 101, Maharashtra, India *Email Address: [email protected] 1.INTRODUCTION Pteridophytes also recognized as ferns and Fern-allies as well as it’s the midpoint of fascination to botanist, horticulturist and fern lovers since earliest times.
    [Show full text]
  • Fern Gazette
    ISSN 0308-0838 THE FERN GAZETTE VOLUME ELEVEN PART FIVE 1977 THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY THE FERN GAZETTE VOLUME 11 PART 5 1977 CONTENTS Page ECOLOGICAL NOTES Observations on some rare Spanish ferns iri Cadiz Province, Spain - B. Molesworth-AIIen 27 1 Unl:>ranched plants of Equisetum palustre L. - G. Halliday 276 Cyrtomium fa lcatum naturalised on Rhum - P. Corkh i/1 277 MAIN ARTICLES A pteridophyte flora of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve - A. Wil lmot 279 Ferns in the Cameroons. 11. The pteridophytes of the evergreen forests - G. Ben/ 285 An ecological survey of the ferns of the Canary Islands - C. N. Page 297 A new record of Synchytrium athyrii on Athyrium filix-femina - E. MUller & J.J. Schneller 313 Further cytogenetic studies and a reappraisal of the diploid ancestry in the Dryopteris carthusiana complex - M. Gibby & S. Wa lker 315 Cytology and reproduction of Ch eilanthes fa rinosa from Yemen -S.C. Verma 325 Lunathyrium in the Azores; a postscript- W.A. Sledge 33 1 SHORT NOTES Dryopteris x brathaica Fraser-Jenkins & Reichstein hybr.nov., the putative hybrid of D.carthusiana x D. fil ix-mas - C.R. Fraser-Jenkins & T.· Reichstein 337 No menclatural notes on Dryopteris - C.R. Fraser-Jenkins & A.C. Jermy 378 REVIEWS 278,329,341,342 [THE FERN GAZETTEVolum e 11 Part 4 was published 1st June 1976] Published by THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY, c/o Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History), London SW7 5BD. FERN GAZ. 11(5) 1977 271 ECOLOGICAL NOTES OBSERVATIONS ON SOME RARE SPANISH FERNS IN CADIZ PROVINCE, SPAIN PTERIS SERRULATA Forskal.
    [Show full text]
  • Beautiful Soccer by the Beautiful Ethiopians!
    The Horn Times Sport, 21 January 2013 Beautiful soccer by the most beautiful Ethiopians! (By Getahune Bekele, at Mbombela stadium - South Africa) ETHIOPIA 1-1 Zambia. “Who said Africa cannot play like Barcelona? This Ethiopian team is Africa’s Barcelona.” Sunday Olisey, Nigerian foot ball legend. “Today Ethiopians have showed the world that African foot ball is on the rise” Mark Fish, South African foot ball legend. “Today I witnessed minnows turning giant killers” President of Nigerian football association. Today I realize why an Irish Historian Deborah Murphy once described my beloved Ethiopia as the land of beautiful women and handsome men. Not just the sheer artistry on the field of play that mesmerized Africa and the world, it was the beauty of the girls and the glamour that followed Ethiopians wherever they go that bewilderd humanity on this historic day. Am as astounded as everybody else by the tactical and technical discipline of the black lions that attacked the mighty Zambians like angry swarm of bees. The goal scored today by the nifty Adane Girma on the 64 th minute is our first goal at African cup of nations since March 1976. And it is done in the most dramatic way. Africa’s lowest ranking team at this tournament, Ethiopia, butchering the defending champions, Zambia. Furthermore, the entire soccer analysts at super sport channel 4 were unanimous when they select the Ethiopia vs. Zambia game as the best since the 29 th edition began on Friday. The game started very badly for the black lions when on the 16 th minute star striker Saladine Said missed a golden chance to put Ethiopia ahead.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity of Fern Flora for Ecological Perspective – a Review
    Available online at www.ijpab.com Vidyashree et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (5): 339-345 (2018) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6750 ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 6 (5): 339-345 (2018) Review Article Diversity of Fern Flora for Ecological Perspective – A Review Vidyashree1, Chandrashekar, S. Y.2*, Hemla Naik, B.3, Jadeyegowda, M.4 and Revanna Revannavar5 1Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Mudigere, Karnataka, India 2University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, India 3Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Karnataka, India 4Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Mudigere, Karnataka, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 29.07.2018 | Revised: 26.08.2018 | Accepted: 3.09.2018 ABSTRACT One of the important cut foliage and indoor potted plant grown for its attractive foliages is fern. The foliage of fern is highly valued in the international florist greenery market because of its long post-harvest life, low cost, year round availability and versatile design qualities in form, texture and colour. Ferns (Pteridophytes) are the seedless vascular plants, dominated the vegetation on earth about 280-230 million years ago. Although they are now largely replaced by the seed bearing vascular plants in the existing flora today, yet they constitute a fairly prominent part of the present day vegetation of the world. India with a highly variable climate has a rich diversity of its flora and Pteridophytic flora greatly contributes to its diversity. Pteridophytes also form an interesting and conscious part of our national flora with their distinctive ecological distributional pattern.
    [Show full text]
  • New Record of Pteridophytes for Delhi Flora, India
    6376Trends in Biosciences 8(22), Print : ISSN 0974-8431,Trends 6376-6380, in Biosciences 2015 8 (22), 2015 New Record of Pteridophytes for Delhi Flora, India ANAND KUMAR MISHRA Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi-110062 *email: [email protected] ABSTRACT species of pteridophytes that occur in the World flora, more than 1,000 species belongs to 70 The Pteridophytes are considered to be one of the families and 191 genera likely to occur in India primitive groups in vascular plants which are scattered all over the world. More than 1000 species (Dixit and Vohra, 1984 ). Out of 1000 species of of fern & fern allies have been reported from India. pteridophytes occurring in India, 170 species have Being a group of lower plants, they were always been found to be used as food, flavour, dye, uncared for and their valuable aspect has been ignored. medicine, bio-fertilizers, oil, fibre and biogas The present study to investigate the survey of wild production (Manickam and Irudayaraj, 1992). plants species of Delhi Flora. The study was Western Ghats and Himalayas are major centre of undertaken during the years 2011-2015. A brief distribution of Pteridophytes in India; these are two description of taxa, vernacular names, classification, important phytogeographical regions of India as family, phenological data, locality, distribution, reported by Chatterjee (1939). medicinal uses and voucher specimen no. are given According to a census, the Pteridophytic flora for this species. Photographs of this species are also of India comprises of 67 families, 191 genera and given in this manuscript. more than 1,000 species (Dixit, 1984) including 47 endemic Indian ferns, less than 10% of those Key words New Record, Pteridophytes, Delhi reported previously and 414 species of Flora, India Pteridophytes (219 At risk, of which 160 critically endangered, 82 Near-threatened and 113 Rare), Pteridophytes are group of seedless and spore constituting 41-43 % of the total number of 950- producing plants, formed by two lineages, 1000 Pteridophytes of India.
    [Show full text]