Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(9) 162-168 ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 9 (2014) pp. 162-168 http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article Pteridophytes diversity of Satpura Hills Balendra Pratap Singh* and Ravi Upadhyay Department of Botany, Govt. P.G. College, Pipariya- 461775, MP, India *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T The present study mainly focuses on the Pteridophytes (ferns and ferns alliance) diversity of Satpura Hills. A total of 96 members of pteridophytes have been collected from the area. These include some rare species such as Psilotum nudam, Selaginella exigua, Cyathea spinulosa, Ophioglossum nudicaule and Polybotrya appendiculata. In addition to these the tree ferns such as and Cyathea spinulosa are not only conspicuous but are also abundant. Ecological and distribution notes are given for all the species. Majority of the pteridophytic members are terrestrial, K e y w o r d s growing inside deep gorges. The first vascular plants rapidly diversified to cover the earth. The sporophyte was the dominant phase of the life cycle of these early Pteridophytes, Pteridophytes. Some species namely Angiopteris helferiana, Cheilanthes Satpura hills, tenuifolia, Nephrolepis exaltata, Cyathea gigantea, C. spinulosa, Polystichum diversity, amabile, Cyclosorus cylindrothrix, Asplenium cheilosorum, A. normale, Ecology Paraleptochilus decurrens and Athyrium macrocarpa recorded at Pachmarhi are also common with Eastern Himalayas, but not recorded from the Western part. These constitute about 19.4% of the pteridophytic flora of the area Selaginella radicata, Ophioglossum nudicaule, Athyrium falcatum and Asplenium inaequilaterale, growing at Pachmarhi, are also found in South India but not known from the Himalayas. It is also interesting to note that Equisetum ramosissimum, Athyrium schimperi and Cyclosorus cylindrothrix met with both at Pachmarhi and in the Himalayas, are not recorded from South India. There are only two species namely Selaginella exigua and Isoetes panchananni that are found at Pachmarhi but are not recorded either from the Himalayas or South India. Introduction The Satpura Range is a range of hills in Pakistan from the Deccan Plateau to the central India. The range rises in eastern south. The Narmada River runs in the Gujrat state near the Arabian Sea coast, depression between the Satpura and running east through Maharashtra and Vindhya ranges, and draining the northern Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh. The range slope of the Satpura range and running west parallels the Vindhya Range to the north, towards the Arabian Sea. The Tapti River and these two east-west ranges divide the drains the southern slopes of the western end Indo-Gangetic plane of northern India and of the Satpura Range. At its eastern end, the 162 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(9) 162-168 Satpura range meets the hills of the Chota The Satpura hills, a composite of Satpura Nagpur plateau. The pteridophytic flora of Mountains ranging from 320-1352 meter Satpura region is very rich, as various altitude pertains 50-230 cm annual rainfall gorges provide ideal habitat for the growth having large deep ravines between two steep of such plants. This place has one of the mountains. This unique geographical richest floras of India the representing the architecture has christened more specific elements of north and south Indian flora. and distinct microclimate which has led the The name pteridophytes were derived from Satpura hills to be biological richest territory the Greek words, pteron denoting feather next to the Himalayas and peninsular India. and phyta plant, due to feather like leaves. The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve The ferns and fern allies together from the composed of three districts Hoshangabad, pteridophytes; the fern are considered as Betul and Chindwara invariably provide primitive in the characterized by the auspicious distinct climatic conditions for circinate vernation the spore bearing frequent and continuous growth of plant structure, usually many, aggregated to from diversity particularly pteridophytes. distinct, superficial or marginal sorus on the lower surface of sporophylls and usually A total of 96 taxa of pteridophytes with well-developed and copiously veinated belonging to 32 families have been found leaves. The internal structure of rhizome, the from Satpura Hills (Figure-1). During the vescular cylinder is characterized by present study the most dominant families are presence of leaf gaps. Their leaves are Thelypteridaceae, Polypodiaceae, usually microphyllous and not well- Pteridaceae, Athyriaceae, Adiantaceae, veinated. Aspleniaceae, Aspidiaceae and Nephrolepidaceae Materials and Methods A total of 48 genuses belonging to 96 The present study is the outcome of the one species have been found from Satpura Hills. years of critical field survey in the different During the present study the most dominant parts of Satpura hills in various seasons. genus were present Asplenium, Nephrolepis, Ethnobotanical and ecological information Pteris, Adiantum, Athyrium and Cheilanthes. was gathered from the local and tribal The maximum percentage variations are people. All the specimens were collected in 12.5 genuses Asplenium, Nephrolepis, Pteris duplicate forms and they were deposited in and minimum percentage variations are 2.08 the Herbarium of Botany department of (Figure-2) Actiniopteris, Ampelopteris, Botany, government Narmada post graduate Angiopteris, Arachinodes, Araiostegia, college, Hoshangabad, (MP) Descriptions of Azolla, Bolbitis, Ceratopteris, Davallia, species and identification were done with Dicranopteris, Diplazium, Gymnopteris, the help of literature given by Beddome, Hypodematium, Lepisorus, Leucostegia, R.H. (1973 and 1983) Khullar, S.P. (1994 Lindsaea, Lygodium, Marsilea, and 2000), Khullar et al. 1991 and Pande Microsorium, Osmunda, Paraleptochilus, and Pande, 2002. Pronephrium, Pseudocyclosorus, Psilotum, Salvinia, Sphaerostephanos, Sphenomeris The Satpura hills lying between 20°10' to and Trigonospora. 22°50'N latitude and 77°45'to 78°56'E longitude constitutes a major component of The pteridophytes are widely use by local central Indian subtropical evergreen forest. people of the Satpura Hills such as Styptic, 163 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(9) 162-168 Anthelmintic, Bronchitis, Gynecological, to thirty two families of pteridophytes in Tuberculosis, Cough, Diabetes, good health, various Ethno-Botanical uses. Out of these Chicken pox, Internal burning, Fever, skin 96 species in Satpura hills Isoetes diseases, Asthma, Dysentery, Sterility, panchananai Pant & Srivastava, Psilotum Leprosy, Tatttoo, Hair Falling, Tonic, nudum (L.), Ophioglosum nudicaule L., Expectorant, Astringent, Emetic, Diuretic, Leptochilus lanceolatus Fee., Selaginella Scorpion Bite, Vegetable curry, Indigestion, jainii Dixit., Cyathea balakrishnanii (Dixit treatment hair loss of the cattle caused either et Tripathi), Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex due to infection or injury Enlargement of Hook.), and Cyathea spinulosa (Wall. ex spleen in continuance of urine, Calculus, Hook.) are endemic. During study I have Jaundice, Malaria, colds, Gonorrhoea, reported one new species Leptochilus Leucorrhoea, Anthelminic, Poultry feed, lanceolatus Fee Upadhyay and Singh (2010) rhizome Typhoid, Vulnerary, Antiseptic, in central India. The use of some species Urine problems, Epilepsy, General tonic, were found to be similar with some other Gout rheumatism, Spermatorrhea, Hair tribes else were from different places of tonic, sudorific, aphrodisiac white India, Clarke (1880), Beddome (1883) who discharges, sudorific and aphrodisiac, largely emphasized the species composition Antibacterial constipation, Roofs and house of the pteridophytes in northern, southern walls, Aqueous, cushion for cattle shed, and western India respectively. These green vegetables, Snakebite, cuts, Wounds, studies were continued by Hope (1899- Ulcers, Swelling and pains, Bone fracture, 1904), Chatterjee (1940), Chandra (1982), Kidney trouble, Enema, Stomach disorders Chandra and Kaur (1987, 1994), Dixit in children, Rheumatism, Jadu-tona, Locket (1984), Nayar and Kaur (1974), Singh and for avoiding evil spirit, Beri-beri as lotion, Panigrahi (2005) to provide pteridophytic skin eruption, Flatulence, Lung ailments, wealth in different regions of Indian sub- Sprains, Cut wounds, Casbundes, Spastic continent. Except few scattered conditions of leg muscles, in Sedation and contributions viz. Graham (1915), Tiwari Insomnia Purgative, healing wound, Wound (1964), Panigrahi and Dixit (1966), and to check bleeding, intestinal Disorders, Dixit (1988, 1989), the Central Indian region Stomach ulcer and Acidity, Hair fall, particularly Satpura mountains range of Menstrual disorders, burns as Cooling agent, Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve could not Burns as cooling agent, Vulnerary, Remedy receive proper attention of pteridologists for for wounds, Old skin disease, Intestinal documentation of pteridophytic wealth. The problems, Rickets, Pyorrhoea, Diarrhea, first effort to enlist the pteridophytic Cuts and Bruises, Hypotonic, Antiviral, diversity in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Antibacterial, Swelling of Joints till it is was made by Bir and Vasudeva (1972, cured, Early Maturation of boils, Irregular 1973) thirty nine years back who chronicled Menstrual cycle, Gonorrhoea, Antibacterial 73 species altogether with fern and fern- agent, Toothache, Swelling and sprains, allies. One species Upadhyay and Singh Eczema and Scabies. 82 pteridophytes are (2010), Upadhyay et al. (2011),