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Chapter - 6

ENUMERATION OF TAX A

The system o f classification and the sequential order o f the families,

presented in the study, mainly follow the scheme proposed by Pichi Sermolli

(1977), with the addition o f new records and slight changes due to the recent

generic concepts in some cases. The genera within families, species and hybrids

within genera and sub-species or varieties within species are arranged

alphabetically. The type genus for each family and the type species for each genus

have been mentioned. The available information on latest nomenclature has been

incorporated. Authority citation, first valid publication, basionym (wherever

applicable), important synonyms (mainly in reference to the relevant literature),

morphological (botanical) description, cytology (wherever available), sporulation

period, ecology, geographical cum local distribution and com mon/vernacular names

(wherever available) are provided for each taxon included. The valid name is given

in bold face; basionyms and synonyms are given in italics. Short notes are

appended in case o f some o f the species. B rief reasons are cited for the exclusion o f

fems, which were earlier reported, either in error or in misidentification, or are

based on dubious records. A set o f identified specimens stands deposited in the

Department o f Pharmaceutical Sciences, University o f Kashmir, Srinagar. An

additional set will be deposited in the Herbarium o f the Centre o f Plant Taxonomy,

Department o f Botany, University o f Kashmir (KASH). Field and plate numbers

(wherever available) have also been depicted in the text.

Some taxa collected by earlier workers from remote pockets or prohibited

areas have been incorporated in the present study, but were not collected due to

inaccessibility to these areas for obvious reasons..............security! The incorporation

48

is based on Clarke (1880); Beddome (1883, 1892); Hope (1899-1904); Stewart

(1945, 1951, 1957, 1972); Dhir (1980); Dixit (1984); Khullar and Sharma (1987);

Fraser-Jenkins (1989, 1992, 1997a, b); Khullar (1994, 2000); Chandra (2000) etc.

Acronyms for Herbaria:BM: British Museum, London.

BSD: Botanical Survey o f India, Dehra Dun.

CAL: Botanical Survey o f India, Howrah.

DD: Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun.

E: Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh.

K: Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey (KEW).

KASH: Herbarium o f the Centre o f Plant Taxonomy, Department o f Botany,

University o f Kashmir, Srinagar.

LWG: National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow.

PAN: Herbarium o f the Department o f Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

PE: Beijing Herbarium.

PUN: Herbarium o f the Department o f Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala.

RAW: The National Herbarium and R. R. Stewart Collection, Islamabad.

Key to the Families:la . Leaves represented by narrow and simple m icrophylls................................................

............................... Lycopodiaceae, Selaginellaceae, E qu isetaceae (Fern-allies)

lb . Leaves represented by megaphylls or distinct lamina:

2a. Aquatic or marshy plants:

3a. Plants free floating:

4a. Sporangia in pairs; floating lamina small, light or light brown to

reddish............................................................................................A zollaceae

4b. Sporocarps in branches; floating leaves light g reen........Salviniaceae

3b. Plants rooted in mud......................................................................M arsileaceae

2b. Terrestrial or epiphytic plants:

5a. Sporangia borne in spikes or in paniculate clusters, arising from the

spike or lamina:

6a. Sterile segment simple; veins anastomosing; sporangia half

embedded in two lateral rows........................................O phioglossaceae

49

6b. Sterile segment decompound:

7a. Rhizome without persistent leaf bases: fronds herbaceous in

texture; stipes fleshy...................................................... Botrychiaceae

7b. Rhizome with persistent leaf bases; fronds thick, sub-coriaceous

in texture; stipes thick, not fleshy............................... O sm undaceae

5b. Sporangia bome on lamina:

8a. Fertile ultimate segments like a ‘pod’...................C ryp togram m aceae

8b. Fertile ultimate segments never like a 'pod':

9a. Under surface of lamina usually farinose..............S inopteridaceae

9b. Under surface o f lamina not farinose:

10a. Sori marginal or apical in position:

11a. Sori continuous:

12a. Indusia single, formed by reflexed indusial

margin.......................................................P teridaceae

12b. Indusia double- outer false, the inner true..............

..................................................................P terid iaceae

l ib . Sori discontinuous:

13a. Sori cup-shaped:

14a. Rhizome hairy.................. D ennstaedtiaceae

14b. Rhizome scaly and fibrillose..L indsaeaceae

13b. Sori not cup-shaped............................. A diantaceae

10b. Sori not marginal in position:

15a. Sori indusiate:

16a. Sori usually sunk, parallel to the m idrib.................

............................................................ Blechnaceae

16b. Sori not sunk:

17a. Unicellular hairs or setae present on rachis

and costa; lamina usually narrowed at both

ends.......................................Thelypteridaceae

17b. Unicellular hairs or setae absent:

18a. Indusia round to reniform:

50

19a. Indusia round, with articulate

hairs. W oodsiaceae

19b. Indusia reniform, without

articulate hairs..D ryopteridaceae

18b. Indusia linear:

20a. Scales clathrate; indusia linear....

A spleniaceae

20b. Scales never clathrate; indusia

curved. A thyriaceae

15b. Sori not indusiate:

21a. Sori round to oval, rarely linear; sporangial

paraphyses present. Polypodiaceae

21b. Sori linear-elongate; sporangial paraphyses

absent. H em ionitidaceae

Botrychiaceae Nakai, J. Jap. Bot. 24: 9 (1949).

Type: Botrychium Sw.

The family comprises a single genus, which is also recorded from the area

of study.

Botrychium Sw. in Schrad. J. Bot. 1800(2): 8, 110 (1801).

Type: Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw.

The genus is represented by six species in India (Dixit, 1984; Chandra,

2000); two species are recorded from the study area.

Key to the Species and Varieties:

la . Common stipe short; fertile segment usually arises towards the base o f the

common stipe; the fertile segment borne on a long stipe:

2a. Sterile pinnae close, somewhat overlapping, flabellulate or lunate, margin

entire or crenate...........................................................................................B. lunaria

2b. Sterile pinnae rather remote, not overlapping, either flabellulate or oblong,

margin deeply incised.............................................B. lunaria v a r. onondagense

lb . Common stipe long; fertile segment usually arises at the base o r above the base

o f the sterile lamina; the fertile segment borne on a short stipe... B. virginianum

51

Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. in Schrad. J. Bot. 1800(2): 110 (1801); Clarke in

Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 587 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Ferns Brit.

India: 469 (1883) and Suppl.: 110 (1892); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15:

108 (1903); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 425 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali,

Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 2 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in

Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 25 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 21 (1984); Khullar,

Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 2 (1994); Chandra, Ferns India: 5 (2000).

Osmunda lunaria L., Sp. PI. 2: 1064 (1753).

Rhizome small, short, erect, apex hairy. Common stipe 2-7 (-13) cm long,

greenish, cylindrical, hollow, succulcnt. Sterile lamina pinnate, 4-5 cm long, 1.5-3.0

cm broad, sessile, narrowly triangular-lanceolate or oblong, fleshy, coriaceous,

glabrous; pinnae 4-5 pairs, 0.7-1.5 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad (at base), shortly

stalked to almost sessile, close, often overlapping, flabellulate, lunate or reniform,

margin entire or crenatc or ± incised. Stipe o f the fertile segment 1-5 cm long,

glabrous, racemose or paniculate; panicle 2-3 (-8) cm long. Sporangia large, sessile,

circular, brown, arranged in two rows on the dorsal face o f spikes. Spores

yellowish, trilete; exine reticulatc.

Cytology: Diploid sexual, n=45.

Sporulation: June - August.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Nepal; C. Japan; New

Zealand; Tasmania; Australia; Europe; N. America.

Ecology: A rather rare fem in the area, growing in meadows, from 2700-3600 m

altitude.

Local Distribution: Alapatar Lake, near Apharwat, above Gulmarg, 3600 m (R.R.

Stewart 8587); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart 9232); Sonamarg (S.P. Khullar).

Common Name: Moonwort (English).

Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw. va r. onondagense (Underw.) House in Bull. N.Y.

State Mus. Nos. 243-244: 47 (1923); Clausen in Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 19: 6

(1938); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 2

(1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 22 (1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. I:

4 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 5 (2000).

B. onondagense Underw. in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 30: 47 (1903).

52

Rhizome small, short, erect, apex hairy. Common stipe 2-7 (-13) cm long,

greenish, cylindrical, hollow, succulent, glabrous. Sterile lamina pinnate, 4-5 cm

long, 1.5-3.0 cm broad, sometimes shortly petiolate, narrowly triangular-lanceolate

or oblong, texture thin membranaceous, glabrous; pinnae 4-5 pairs, 0.7-1.5 cm long,

1.0-1.5 cm broad (at base), very shortly stalked to almost sessile, somewhat remote,

not overlapping, either flabellulate or oblong, margin deeply incised. Fertile

segment with stipe 1.5-5.0 cm long, glabrous, paniculate; panicle 2-3 (-8) cm long,

racemose. Sporangia large, sessile. Spores trilete, yellowish; exine reticulate.


Sporulation: May - July.

Geographical Distribution: India; S. China; Tibet; parts o f Europe; N.E. USA.

Ecology: Rare, growing among grasses in moist shady situations, from 2800-3300

m altitude.

Local Distribution: On forest floor, Pahalgam, 7,200 ft (citcd by Clausen, 1938).

Common Name: Moonwort (English).

Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw. in Schrad. J. Bot. 1800(2): 111 (1801); Clarke in

Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 588 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit.

India: 471 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 109 (1903); Stewart in

Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 425 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI.

W. Pak. and Kashmir: 2 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1:

25 (1980); Chandra, Ferns India: 6 (2000).

Osmunda virginiana L., Sp. PI. 2: 1064 (1753).

Botrypus virginianus (L.) Holub in Preslia 45: 277 (1973); Khullar, Illus. Fem. FI.

W. Himal. 1: 14(1994).

Rhizome short, erect, apex hairy; hairs light brown, long. Common stipe 7-

25 cm long, stramineous to light brown, ± thick, dia. 0.5 cm, fleshy, sparsely hairy;

hairs long, white. Sterile lamina 3-4- pinnate, 15-45 cm long, 10-30 cm broad,

deltate, texture thin, membranaceous, glabrous to sparsely hairy, hairs not woolly;

pinnae 5-7 pairs, 7-20 cm long, 5-10 cm broad (lowest largest pair), alternate,

petiolate; basiscopic pinnules larger than the acroscopic ones, basal pinnule the

largest; ultimate lobes oblong-lanceolate, variously lobed or toothed, apex acute or

blunt. Stipe o f fertile segment 10-23 cm long, arising from the base o f the sterile

53

lamina; spike pinnately compound, 2-15 cm long. Sporangia arranged in two

closely set rows in linear ultimate segment, globose. Spores hyaline, tetra-hedrate;

exine reticulate.

Cytology: Tetraploid sexual, n=92.

Sporulation: August - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Japan; C. Europe; N. America.

Ecology: A rare fern o f the forests, from 2100-3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Lolab Valley (IVroughton); Pahalgam, 7,200 ft (R.R. Stewart

and Stokoe).

Ophioglossaccae Agardh, Aphor. Bot. 8: 113 (1822).

Type: Ophioglossum L.

Pichi Sermolli (1977) recognised four genera in the family; only one is

recorded from the area o f study.

Ophioglossum L., Sp. PI. 2: 1062 (1753).

Type: Ophioglossum vulgatum L.

The genus is represented by 50-54 species (Christensen, 1934, 1938;

Copeland, 1947; Pichi Sermolli, 19556); only one species is recorded from the area

o f study.

Ophioglossum reticulatum L., Sp. PI. 2: 1063 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.

London II (Bot.) 1: 586 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 465 (1883) and

Suppl.: 109 (1892); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 26 (1980);

Khullar, Illus. Fem FL W. Himal. 1: 28 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 11 (2000).

Rhizome short, erect. Fronds usually one, rarely more in a season. Common

stipe 3-16 cm long, as long as the fertile stipe, glabrous. Trophophyll (sterile

lamina) 10-15 cm long, 1-5 cm broad, sessile, or with a short haft, up to 1 cm long,

cordate, broadly ovate, ovate-orbicular or even sub-reniform, base broad truncate or

cordate, apex obtuse or rounded, rarely acute, texture thin, membranaceous; main

veins run from the base only to the middle o f the lamina and do not reach the apex.

Fertile stipe 5-18 cm long; strobilus 1.0-5.5 cm long. Sporangia 15-40 in each row,

globose. Spores oval to round, light yellow; exine finely reticulate.

Cytology: n=960, 1140, 1260 (highest in the plant kingdom).

54

Sporulation: July - November.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Philippines; Sri Lanka;

Mauritius; West Indies; America; Mexico.

Ecology: Rare, found from the plains up to 1800 m altitude in grasslands or slopes.

Local Distribution: Harwan; Dachigam forest floor (teste Fraser-Jenkins etc.).

Common Name: Chonchur (Kashmiri).

Doubtful/Excluded Taxa:

Ophioglossum vulgatum L.: In the local literature, Ophioglossum vulgatum is

recorded from Dachigam forest floor; however, an exam ination o f the plants under

0. vulgatum leaves no doubt o f being O. reticulatum. This is further strengthened

by Fraser-Jenkins (vide Khullar, 1994), who states that all records o f the said taxa

from Western Himalaya appear to be O. reticulatum. Furthermore, according to

Dixit (pers. comm. Fraser-Jenkins), the existence o f O. vulgatum in India is

obscure. Following the authoritative works o f above authors, I have no hesitation to

treat our species as O. reticulatum.

O sm undaceae Berch. et Presl, Prirozen Rostl. 1: 272 (1820).

Type: Osmunda L.

This is the most primitive family o f leptosporangiate fems, with charactcrs

intermediate between eusporangiate and the more advanced fems (Bir et a l, 1986).

Pichi Sermolli (1972) recognised three genera in the family; only one is recorded

from the area o f study.

Osmunda L., Sp. PI. 2: 1063 (1753).

Type: Osmunda regalis L.

The genus is represented by about 20 species (Bir et a l 1986); only one

species occurs in the study area.

Osmunda claytoniana L., Sp. PI. 2: 1066 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.

London II (Bot.) 1. 582 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 499 (1883);

Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 103 (1903); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.

Club 72: 424 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 3 (1972); Singh and Kachroo, For. FI. Srinagar: 231 (1976); Dhir, Fems

N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 27 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 27

55

(1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 37 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 16

(2000). P la te - 5 (I).

Osmunda interrupta Michx., FI. Bor. Amer. 2: 273 (1803).

Rhizome deeply buried in the soil, thick, erect or sub-erect. Fronds

isomorphic. Stipes 30-50 cm long, 0.3-0.4 cm thick, hairy when young, becoming

glabrous with age; hairs light brown, long; rachis hairy when young, becoming ±

glabrous with age. Lamina 1- pinnate, up to c. 50 cm long, 15-25 cm broad,

narrowly triangular-lanceolate, texture thick, herbaceous, upper surface hairy when

young, glabrous at maturity; pinnae up to c. 20 pairs, 8-12 cm long, 2-4 cm broad,

alternate, very shortly petiolate, lanceolate, margin deeply lobed to the costa or

rarely becoming pinnate, m iddle 5-8 pairs o f pinnae fertile, the rest sterile; sterile

lobes or pinnules 1-2 cm long, oblong, apex rounded or obtuse, margin entire;

fertile pinnae shorter than the sterile ones, bearing dense clusters o f sporangia.

Sporangia attached to the surface o f veins on both margins o f the lobes. Spores

globose, non-perinate; exine with short irregular protuberances.

Cytology: Diploid, n=22.

Sporulation: May - August.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Taiwan; Japan;

Korea; N. America; Siberia.

Ecology: Fairly common, above 3000 m altitude, in forests and open meadows.

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg, 3300 m (Maajed 79 etc.; K.K. Dhir); Gulmarg

(Rao 249, BSD; J.F. Duthie 11425, CAL); Baramulla (Rao 9550, BSD);

Lidderwatt, 3000 m (K.K. Dhir).

Common Name: Interrupted Fern (English).

Polypodiaceae Berch. et Presl, Prirozen Rostl. 1: 272 (1820), emend. Ching in

Sunyatsenia 5: 257 (1940).

Type: Polypodium L.

Pichi Sermolli (1977) recognised 63 genera in the family; only two are

recorded in the present study.

Key to the Genera:

la . Fronds sim ple........................................................................................................Lepisorus

lb . Fronds deeply lobed or pinnatifid...........................................................Phymatopteris

56

Lepisorus (J. Sm.) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 4: 56 (1933).

Type: Lepisorus thunbergianus (Kaulf.) Ching.

The genus is represented by 14 species in the West Himalaya; only four are

present in our area.

Key to the Species:

la . Lamina less than 2.5 cm in width:

2a. Lamina herbaceous in texture.............................................................L. clathratus

2b. Lamina sub-coriaceous to coriaceous in texture.....................L. thunbergianus

lb . Lamina more than 2,5 cm in width:

3a. Rhizome scales concolorous, margin erose............................... L. sesquipedalis

3b. Rhizome scales bicolorous, margin toothed............................. L. morrisonensis

Lepisorus clathratus (Clarke) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 4: 71

(1933); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 125 (1980); Dixit,

Cens. Indian Pterid.: 40 (1984); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 320


(2000). P la te - 5 (II).

Polypodium claihratum Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 559 (1880);

Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 267 (1903).

Pleopeltis clathrata (Clarke) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 348 (1883);

Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 20 (1972).

Platygyria variabilis Ching et S.K. Wu in Acta Bot. Yunnanica 5: 21 (1983), non

Lepisorus variabilis Ching et S.K. Wu.

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly; scales blackish, concolorous, lanceolate

or narrowly lanceolate. Stipes 0.3-1.0 cm distant on the rhizome, 2-5 cm long, often

as long as, or half as long as the lamina, stramineous, thin, glabrous; rachis

prominent. Lamina simple, apex acute or obtuse, margin entire, texture thin,

herbaceous, scaly, scales deciduous; veins visible on both surfaces, anastomosing to

form 3-4 large areolae between margin and rachis. Sori round, large, medial, middle

part o f the frond fertile (between 1 -4 cm o f basal and 1.5 cm o f apical part sterile).

Spores yellowish; exine smooth.

Sporulation: August - October.

57

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Tibet; Taiwan:

Japan; Nepal; Siberia.

Ecology: Occasional, growing on humus rich crevices o f rocks and tree trunks,

from c. 2400-3600 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Barnai, Gurez {Maajed 273, 284, 291, 298); Kishenganga

Valley (R. McLeod); Sonamarg (Inayat 23208, DD; G.A. Gammie. DD); Pahalgam;

Lidderwatt; Aru; Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart 26484 teste Fraser-Jenkins; Fraser-

Jenkins 7517, PE); Pir Panjal (Clarke); Batalik, Ladakh, 2700 m (Maajed 411-416);

Darchik, Ladakh (Maajed295).

The fern misreported as Platygyria variabilis Ching et S.K. Wu by Khullar

and Sharma (1987) from Lidder Valley, Kashmir is actually Lepisorus clathratus.

Even the genus Platygyria Ching et S.K. Wu is not recognised any more (Fraser-

Jenkins, 1997a).

Lepisorus morrisonensis (Hay.) H. Ito in J. Jap. Bot. 11: 92 (1935); Khullar, Illus.

Fern FI. W. Himal. 1: 99 (1994); Khullar in Indian Fem J. 12: 178 (1995); Chandra.

Fems India: 381 (2000).

Polypodium morrisonensis Hay. in Bot. Mag. Tokyo 23: 77 (1909).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, densely scaly; scales dark brown, bicolorous,

with a light coloured margin, ovate, margin toothed or highly erose, apex long

acuminate, 0.2-0.4 cm long, 0.5 cm broad. Stipes 0.5-1.0 cm distant on rhizome,

short, 2-4 cm long, stramineous, sparsely scaly, scales as on rhizome; rachis

prominent, sparsely scaly; scales as on stipe but gradually becom ing smaller and

fewer towards the apex. Lamina simple, 25-35 (-50) cm long, narrow, 1.3-2.2 cm

broad, lanceolate, base decurrent on stipe, apex acute, m argin entire or slightly

convoluted, texture herbaceous, lower surface sparsely scaly; scales dark brown,

bicolorous, small, ovate, upper surface glabrous; veins obscure, anastomosing to

form 3-4 areolae between margin and rachis. Sori slightly immersed, round, sub-

medial, few confluent at maturity, usually upper part o f the lamina fertile. Spores

yellowish, tuberculate.

Cytology: Tetraploid, n=70.

Sporulation: July - October.

Geographical Distribution: India; Tibet; Taiwan.

58

Ecology: Occasional, epiphytic or lithophytic, from 2000-3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution-. Sonamarg, 10,500 ft (R.R. Stewart 6598, US teste Fraser-

Jenkins); Mount Kolahoi and Pahalgam in Hast Kashmir Valley (P.N. Kohli 138,

RAW teste Fraser-Jenkins; R.R. Stewart 5950, 9166, RAW teste Fraser-Jenkins;

KK. Dhir 3489, PAN teste Fraser-Jenkins); Kachil Peak in North Kashmir Valley

(R. McLeod, KUH teste Fraser-Jenkins).

Lepisorus sesquipedalis (J. Sm.) Fras.-Jenk. in Bot. Helv. 102(2): 153 (1992), non

(Wall, ex J. Sm.); Fras.-Jenk. in Pak. Syst. 5: 91 (1992); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 1: 109 (1994); Chandra, Fems Tndia: 383 (2000).

Drynaria sesquipedalis J. Sm. in Bot. Mag. 72 Comped.: 13 (1846).

Polypodium sesquipedalis (J. Sm.) Mett., Mem. Fam. Foug. 1: 162 (1856).

Rhizome long creeping, thick, dia. 0.4-1.0 cm, woody, scaly; scales dark

brown, concolorous, lanceolate, margin entire or slightly crose, apex acuminate.

Stipes approximate, 0.2-2.0 cm distant on the rhizome, 0.5-4.0 cm long,

stramineous, sparsely scaly; scales as on rhizome, adpressed, deciduous; rachis

prominent, scaly; scales as on stipe, adpressed, gradually decreasing in size. Lamina

simple, 15-50 cm long, 1.5-4.0 cm broad, linear to broad lanceolate, base decurrent

on stipe, apex acute, margin entire or slightly convoluted, texture herbaceous,

membranaceous when dry, lower surface scaly; scales dark brown, small; veins

distinct, anastomosing to form 4-5 areolae between margin and costa. Sori

immersed, forming pustules on the surface, round, sub-medial. Spores yellowish-

brown; exine sparsely tuberculate.

Cytology: Diploid, n=35.


Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Yunnan; N. Thailand.

Ecology: Occasional, from 1500-3000 m altitude; epiphytic or lithophytic on rocks.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam, 8,500 ft (R.R. Stewart 21492, 21806, K teste Fraser-

Jenkins); Lidderwatt Forest, 3000 m (K.K. Dhir teste Fraser-Jenkins); Fras Nag, Pir

Panjal Range, 9,000-10,000 ft (R.R. Stewart 23213, K teste Fraser-Jenkins).

Lepisorus thunbergianus (Kaulf.) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 4: 88

(1933); Bir and Trikha in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 11: 269 (1969); Dhir, Fems N.W.

Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 124 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 43

59

(1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Pak. Syst. 5: 97 (1992) and New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid.

Fems Nepal: 166 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 385 (2000).

Pleopeltis thunbergiana Kaulf., Wescn. d. Farmke.: 113 (1827).

Polypodium lineare Thunb., FI. Jap.: 335 (1784), non Burm. 1768, m e Houtt. 1783;

Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 558 (1880), pro parte; Hope in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 90 (1903). pro parte.

Lepisorus stewartii Ching in Acta Bot. Austro-Sinica 1: 23 (1983); Khullar, Illus.

Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 112 (1994).

L. mussooriensis Khullar in J. Himal. Res. Dev. 7: 59 (1988), nom. nud.

Rhizome long creeping, thin, densely scaly; scales dark brown, narrow,

bicolorous, almost unique in its highly characteristic dark central band o f scales

with no luminae and with a narrow band o f light brown marginal cells, subulate-

lanceolate, margin toothed, apex long acuminate, filiform. Fronds long, narrow,

though a full range o f intermediates between narrower (longer) and wider (shorter)

fronds also exists. Stipes 4-5 cm long. Lamina 15-20 cm long, 0.4-0.5 cm broad,

narrowly linear, apex acute or obtuse, base gradually narrowed and decurrent on

stipe, margin slightly revolute, texture sub-coriaceous, pale green; veins obscure.

Sori large, medial, round, contiguous, filling up the space between margin and

costa, confluent at maturity.


Geographical Distribution: India, Pakistan, China.

Ecology. Occasional, epiphytic or lithophytic on rocks, from 1500-2000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Ferozcpur Nallah, Tangmarg; Mt. Kolahoi, around Pahalgam;

Sonamarg; Daksum, all in W est and East Kashmir Valley (R.R. Stewart 10572, K;

8277, 8278, RAW; 8323, K, RAW teste Fraser-Jenkins; VC. Gupta A 1450, KASH

teste Fraser-Jenkins; R.L. Bharti, KASH teste Fraser-Jenkins; CM . Sethi 58, KASH

teste Fraser-Jenkins); Fras Nag, Pir Panjal Range (R.R. Stewart teste Fraser-

Jenkins).


Lepisorus excavatus (Bory ex Willd.) Ching: D hir (1980) reported this fem from

Kashmir; also reported by Stewart, 1972 [under Pleopeltis excavata (Willd.)

Sledge], however, according to Fraser-Jenkins (1997a), this species is not present in

60

Asia. The plants identified under Lepisorus excavatus from Kashmir belong to L.

sesquipedalis.

Lepisorus loriformis (Wall, ex Mett.) T. Moore: Stewart (1972) reported this fern

(under the name Pleopellis loriformis (Wall, ex Mett.) I. Moore) from various

locations in Kashmir Valley. How'ever, the later workers treat this fern under L.

stewartii. On the other hand, Fraser-Jenkins (1997a) transferred all the material

under this name to L. thunbergianus along with the variety steniste (Clarke) Stewart

reported by Stewart (1972).

Lepisorus stewartii Ching: Reported by Khullar and Sharma (1987), and Khullar

(1994), citing R. R. Stewart collections from various locations o f Kashmir Valley,

however the type materials at RAW examined by Fraser-Jenkins turned out to be

typical L. thunbergianus.

Lepisorus suboligolepidus Ching: Bir and Trikha (19686, 1974), and Khullar and

Sharma (1987) reported this species from Sonamarg, 10,500 ft (3200 m). However,

the specimen (R.R. Stewart 6598, US) turned out to be Lepisorus morrisonensis

(Fraser-Jenkins, 1997a).

Phymatopteris Pich. Seim, in Webbia 28: 460 (1973).

Type: Phymatopteris palmata (Bl.) Pich. Serm.

The genus contains about 60 species; only one spccies is recorded from our

area.

Phymatopteris quasidivaricata (Hay.) Pich. Serm. in W ebbia 28: 464 (1973); Bir

and Satija in Asp. PL Sci. 8: 63 (1985); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid.

Fems Nepal: 196 (1997).

Polypodium quasidivaricatum Hay. in J. Coll. Sc. Univ. Tokyo 30: 446 (1911).

P. stewartii auct., non Bedd.; Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 563

(1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 720 (1902-1903).

Phymatodes stracheyi Ching in Contr. Inst. Bot. Nat. Acad. Peiping 2: 83 (1933);

Dhir, Fem sN.W . Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 127 (1980).

Polypodium stracheyi (Ching) C. Chr., Index Fil. Suppl. 3: 159 (1934); Stewart in

Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 423 (1945).

Crypsinusquasidivaricatus (Hay.) CopeL, Gen. Fil.: 206 (1947).

61

Crypsinus stracheyi (Ching) Panigr. et Patnaik in Proc. Ncition. Acad. Sci. India B

34: 482 (1964); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 19 (1972).

Phymatopteris stracheyi (Ching) Pich. Semi, in Wcbbia 28: 468 (1973); Dixit,

Cens. Indian Pterid.: 50 (1984); Khullar. Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 141 (1994);

Chandra, Fems India: 418 (2000).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly; scales bicolorous, lanceolate. Stipes 1-2

cm distant on the rhizome, 8-10 cm long, stramineous, thin, firm, glabrous, but

extreme base scaly; rachis glabrous. Lamina simple, pinnatifid, 10-15 cm long, 10-

15 cm broad, deltate or narrowly clongate-lanceolate, margin deeply lobed, texture

sub-coriaceous, glabrous; lobes triangular-lanceolate, base broad, apex acuminate,

margin minutely serrate or serrulate, terminal lobe 7-9 cm long, c. 1 cm broad, as

long as the lateral ones, lateral lobes 3-4 pairs, opposite to alternate, lowest pair

downwards deflexed, acuminate; veins anastomosing, forming 2-3 series o f areolae.

Sori round, close to main vein, in one row on either side o f it. Spores dark brown,

non-perinate; exine granulose.


Sporulation-. August - October.

Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Sichuan.

Ecology. Rare, recorded only from a few places, between 2000-3200 m altitudes in

West Himalaya.

Local Distribution: On a cliff face above Pahalgam, 9,000 ft (R.R. Stewart 9276,

21740 teste Fraser-Jenkins).

The species Phymatopteris stracheyi (Ching) Pich. Serm. continues to be

erroneously depicted as a separate taxon, distinct from Phymatopteris

quasidivaricata in the latest Indian fern literature, i.e. Khullar, 1994; Chandra, 2000

etc. However, Tagawa (1950 etc.) and Kato (1985) have found P. stracheyi to be a

synonym o f P. quasidivaricata. This is further strengthened by Fraser-Jenkins

(1997a) who also treats them to be conspecific. In view o f this, P. stracheyi is taken

as a synonym o f Phymatopteris quasidivaricata in the present work.

62

Sinopteridaceae Koidz., Acta Phytotax. Geobot 3: 50 (1934).

Type: Sinopteris C. Chr. et Ching.

Ching (1978) included eight genera in the family; only two are recorded

from the area o f study.

Key to the Genera:

la. Indusia usually continuous.................................................................................... Petlaea

lb. Indusia discrete, but not quite continuous................................................. Cheilanthes

Cheilanthes Sw., Syn. Fil. 5; 126 (1806).

Type: Cheilanthes micropteris Sw.

The meaning and circumscription o f the genus is not clear (Ching, 19416);

five species o f Cheilanthes are recorded from the area o f study.

Key to the Species:

la. Farina present on lower surface o f lamina:

2a. Scales restricted to the stipes only; rachis glabrous.............................. C. grisea

2b. Scales running to the top o f stipes or running on to the rachis as w ell..............

.........................................................................................................................C. an ceps

lb . Farina absent:

3a. Stipes glabrous..................................................................................... C. dalhousiae

3b. Stipes and rachis hairy:

4a. Indusial margin with long hairs, resulting in a hairy lower surface o f

pinnules.................................................................................................. C. persica

4b. Indusia margin without hairs, lower surface o f pinnules (lobes) glabrous

.............................................................................................................. C. acrostica

Cheilanthes acrostica (Balbis) Tod., Giom. Sci. Nat. Econ. Palermo 1 :215 (1866);

Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 320 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 1: 183 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 48 (2000).

Pteris acrostica Balbis, Elenco: 98 (1801).

Cheilanthes pteridioides auct.y pro parte, non C. pteridioides (Reichard) C. Chr.;

Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 423 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat.

Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 5 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 39 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 65 (1984).

63

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly; scales light brown, concolorous,

lanceolate. Stipe length variable, 10-13 cm long, dark brown, thin, wiry, sparsely

hairy and scaly; hairs and scales light brown; scales lanceolate, higher up on stipe

scales becoming narrower, almost to fibrils; rachis brown, sparsely hairy and scaly;

scales light brown, linear-lanceolate. Lamina 2-3- pinnate, 2-15 cm long, 1.5-3.0

cm broad, deltate to lanceolate, texture sub-coriaceous, farina absent, glabrous;

pinnae c. 12 pairs, deltate or lanceolate, alternate, shortly petiolate, lowest pair

distant and generally the largest, 1.5-2.0 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad (at base);

pinnules (or lobes) on the acroscopic and basiscopic side unequal, gradually

becoming equal in upper pinnae, small, c. 0.5-1.0 cm long, 0.3-0.7 cm broad,

proximal pair divergent; costae and costules scaly. Sori indusiate, marginal; indusia

without hairs, light brown, margin highly fimbriate, discontinuous; Spores light

brown, tetrahedral to globose.


Sporulation: March - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Afghanistan; Iran; all around the M editerranean;

Turkey; Caucasus; Canaries; Madeira.

Ecology: Occasional, usually occurs between 1500-1800 m, but may also be found

around 750 m altitude; lithophytic in rock crevices.

Local Distribution: Takht-i-Sulaiman, Srinagar (R.R. Stewart); Lower Jhelum

Valley (R.R. Stewart); Lower Kishenganga Valley (R.R. Stewart).

Cheiianthes anceps Blanf. in J. Simla Nat. Hist. Soc. 25: 6 (1866); Bedd.,

Handbook Fems Brit. India Suppl.: 21 (1892); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

13: 249 (1900); Stewart in N asir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 4 (1972); Dhir, Fem s N.W . Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 37 (1980);

Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 63 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Pak. Syst. 5: 95 (1992);

Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FL Pakistan 2: 320 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W.

Himal. 1: 188 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 48 (2000). P la te - 6 (I).

C. farinosa var. anceps (Blanf.) Blanf. in J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 57: 301 (1888).

Aleuritopteris anceps (Blanf.) Panigr. in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 2: 321 (1961).

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly; scales dark brown, bicolorous, lanceolate.

Stipe length variable, 15-30 cm long, dark ebeneus to almost black, thick, robust,

64

scaly. Lamina 1-2- pinnate, 20-30 cm long, 8-10 cm broad, lanceolate to oblong-

lanceolate, thick, texture sub-coriaceous, lower surface thickly farinose; farina

bright white, upper surface dark green, glabrous; pinnae c. 15 pairs, 5-6 cm long, 2-

3 cm broad (at base), lanceolate, sub-opposite to alternate, sessile, margin deeply

lobed to the costa or sometimes becoming pinnate; lobes (or pinnules) 1.0-1.5 cm

long, 0.3-0.4 cm broad (at base), apex acute, margin serrately lobed Vi or more to

the costule, lower 2-3 pairs o f pinnae distant, lowest pair o f pinnae o f the same size

as the two or three above it, 6 cm long, 4 cm broad, basiscopic lobes larger than the

acroscopic ones, proximal pair o f basiscopic lobes (or pinnules) divergent or

parallel to the stipe; costae and costules glabrous. Sori indusiate, marginal; indusia

brown, narrow, m argin fimbriate or toothed, continuous or discontinuous. Spores

light brown, perinate, reticulate.

Cytology. Diploid sexual, n=29.

Sporulation: July - January.

Geographical Distribution: India; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Burma; Thailand;

Philippines; Sri Lanka; E. A frica and its islands; Tropical America.

Ecology: A rare fem , occurring from 1000-1800 m altitude; lithophytic in rock

crevices.

Local Distribution: Darchik, Ladakh (Maajed 404a); Batalik, Ladakh, 2700 m

(Maajed453,454); Rabi La, near M ulbekh, Ladakh (R.R. Stewart det. Maxon).

Cheitanthes dalhousiae Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 80, t. 78B (1852); Hope in J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 243 (1900); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W.

Pak. and Kashmir: 4 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 37

(1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 64 (1984); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI.

Pakistan 1: 263 (1992) and 2: 321 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 199

(1994); Chandra, Fem s India: 51 (2000).

C. farinosa Kaulf. var. dalhousiae (Hook.) Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1: 457 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 93 (1883).

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly. Stipes (5-) 10-20 cm long, shorter than

lamina, dark brown, brittle, glossy, glabrous or sparsely scaly at base; scales brown,

concolorous, spreading, broad lanceolate, margin entire or with a few teeth-like

projections towards apex, apex acuminate; rachis glossy, glabrous. Lamina 1-2-

65

pinnate, length variable, 8-20 cm long, 4-7 cm broad, deltate-oblong or sub-deltate-

lanceolate, texture herbaceous or sub-membranaceous, farina absent, glabrous;

pinnae 10-15 pairs, 3-5 cm long, 1.0-2.5 cm broad (at base), sub-opposite to

alternate, sessile, margin deeply lobed almost to the costa or becoming pinnate in

the lower 2-3 pairs o f pinnae, acroscopic and basiscopic lobes in successive pinnae

o f about the same size; lobes (or pinnules) 1.0-1.5 cm long, 0.4-0.5 cm broad,

lanceolate, apex acute, margin lobed, lowest pair o f pinnae the largest or as large as

the next above, 5-6 cm long, 3-4 cm broad (at base), deltate, distinctly pinnate,

basiscopic pinnule larger than the acroscopic ones, proximal pair o f basiscopic

lobes divergent, the largest 2-3 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm broad (at base), margin deeply

lobed to the costule, or lamina sometimes 3- pinnate (lobes free). Sori indusiate,

almost confluent except at sinus, marginal; indusia light brown, broad, margin

lacerate (fimbriate). Spores dark brown, globose to tetrahedral, perinate.


Sporulation". March - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; S. America.

Ecology: Rare, in damp, moist and shady places, from 1600-2500 m altitude;

recorded for the first time from Ladakh area.

Local Distribution: Darchik, Ladakh (Maajed 4046).

Cheilanthes grisea Blanf. in Sim la Nat. Hist. Soc. Leaflet 1: 21 (1886); Hope in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 250 (1900); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase.

PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 5 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W . Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 40 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 64 (1984); Khullar, Illus.

Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 205 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 54 (2000).

Aleuritopteris farinosa var. grisea (Blanf.) Ching in Hongkong Naturalist 10: 202

(1941).

Rhizome ascending, apex scaly; scales light brown, concolorous, linear-

lanceolate. Stipes many, (5-) 7-12 cm long, as long as the lamina, often reddish,

thin, glossy, glabrous or stipe-base scaly; scales brown, concolorous, lanceolate,

with a broad base, m argin irregular with small fimbriate projections; rachis brown,

glossy, glabrous. Lamina 1-2- pinnate, 9-10 cm long, 5-6 cm broad, narrow

lanceolate or deltate o r ovate-lanceolate, texture herbaceous, lower surface farinose;

66

farina thick, greyish-white, upper surface sparsely farinose; pinnae 5-6 pairs, 1.5-

2.0 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad, triangular, gradually becoming lanceolate higher up

the lamina, alternate, sessile, margin deeply lobed to the costa, or almost becoming

pinnate, basiscopic lobes (or pinnules) larger than the acroscopic ones, lower 2-3

pairs of pinnae sub-equal, distant, lowest pinnae the largest or as long as the upper

one or two pairs, 2.5-3.0 cm long, 2.0-2.5 cm broad (at base), margin deeply lobed

almost to the costa, or lamina 2- pinnate. Sori indusiate; indusia light brown. Spores

dark brown, globose, perinate, verrucose to spinulose.


Sporulation: July - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal.

Ecology: A rare high altitude fern, between 2600 and 2700 m, on shaded rocks.

Local Distribution: Ladakh (T.N. Loin, PE; Fraser-Jenkins).

Cheilanthes persica (Bory) Mett. ex Kuhn, Fil. Afr.: 73 (1868); Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72: 420 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W.


(1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 65 (1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. I:

209 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 55 (2000). P la te - 6 (II).

Notholaenapersica Bory., Bel. Voy. Bot. 2: 23 (1833).

Cheilanthes szovitsii Fish, et Meyer in Bull. Soc. Mossc. 6: 260 (1833); Clarke in


India: 89 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 246 (1900).

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly; scales brown concolorous, linear-

lanceolate. Stipes 5-10 cm long, ebeneus, erect, thin, wiry, glossy, with woolly hairs

and brown scales; rachis with yellowish-brown, linear-lanceolate scales. Lamina 2-

3- pinnate, 8-15 cm long, 2.5-3.5 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate,

texture sub-coriaceous, lower surface densely hairy, hairs white; upper surface

slightly tomentose, farina absent; pinnae c. 12 pairs, deltate; pinnules (or lobes)

linear-oblong, contiguous, ultimate lobes small, rounded; veins free; costa and

costules glabrous. Sori indusiate, marginal; indusia more or less continuous,

produced in long hairs, which render the pinnule lower surface hairy. Spores dark

brown, crenulate to granulate.

67


Sporulation: A ugust-O ctober.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Iran; Turkey; S.K.

Europe.

Ecology: Common, occurs from 1500-3000 m altitude; lithophytic in rock crevices.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 67); Jhelum Valley (J.F. Duthie

10919, DD); Ghantamula, Baramulla (Maajed 37, 116, 124); Rampur (R.R. Stewart

12128); Harwan, Srinagar (Maajed 202, 205); Takht-i-Sulaiman, Srinagar (R.R.

Stewart 9465).

Pellaea Link, Fil. Sp.; 48, 59 (1841).

Type: Pellaea atropurpurea Link.

The genus is represented in the W est Himalaya by two species; only one

occurs in the area o f study.

Pellaea nitidula (W all, ex Hook.) Hook, et Baker, Syn. Fil.: 149 (1867); Clarke in

Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 460 (1880); Bedd.. Handbook Fems Brit.

India: 101 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 447 (1901); Stewart in

Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W. Pak. and Kashmir: 7 (1972); Dhir, Fems

N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 41 (1980); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 1: 225 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 65 (2000),

Cheilanthes nitidula Wall, ex Hook., Sp. Fil. 2 :1 1 2 (1852).

Mildella nitidula (W all, ex Hook.) Hall et Lellinger in Amer. Fem J. 57: 113


Pakistan 2: 321 (1993).

Rhizome short creeping or ascending, shorter branches ascending, lower

creeping, with dark brown, bicolorous, linear-lanceolate scales. Stipes 5-15 cm

long, brown, thin, glossy, upper surface hairy, scaly; scales light brown,

concolorous; rachis hairy like the stipe, sparsely fibrillose. Lamina 2-3- pinnate, 4-

10 cm long, 4-6 cm broad, shape variable, deltate or ovate-lanceolate, or lanceolate

to linear-lanceolate, texture sub-coriaceous, glabrous; pinnae c. 4-5 pairs, c. 3 cm

long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad, alternate, petiolate (lower ones), sessile (distal ones), upper

sessile pinnae pinnate, lanceolate; lobes as in the pinnules in the lower pinnae,

terminal lobe (or pinnule) at apex longer than the lateral ones; pinnules simple,

68

linear, apex acute, margin entire, basiscopic and acroscopic pinnules sub-equal;

costae and costules glabrous. Sori indusiate, marginal; indusia light brown. Spores

dark brown, globose, non-perinate, smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: Occasional, between 1500-2400 m altitudes, in rock crevices.

Local Distribution: Baltal Pass; Pir Panjal. 2600 m (G. Gammie, DD; T. Thomson).

Cryptogram m aceae Pich. Serm. in Webbia 17: 299 (1963).

Type: Cryptogramma R. Br.

The family contains three genera (Pichi Sermolli, 1963, 1977); two are


Key to the Genera:

la. Fronds small; sori rounded or oblong................................................. Cryptogramma

lb. Fronds medium-sized; sori not rounded...................................................... Onychium

Cryptogramma R. Br., Franklin Narr. Journey Polar Sea: 767 (1823).

Type: Cryptogramma acrostichoides R. Br.

The genus contains about six species; two are recorded from our area.

Key to the Species'.

la. Rhizome short, ascending; stipes fascicular....................................... C. brunoniana

lb. Rhizome thin, long creeping; stipes remote.................................................. C. stelleri

Cryptogramma brunoniana Wall, ex Hook, et Grev., Icon. Fil.: t. 158 (1829);

Bedd., Fems Brit. India: t. 164 (1868); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 66 (1984);

Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 6 (1972);

Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 1: 263 (1992) and 2: 322 (1993); Khullar,

Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. I: 230 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 59 (2000).

P la te - 7 (I).

Osmunda crispa L., Sp. PI. 2: 1067 (1753).

Cryptogramma crispa (L.) R. Br. ex Hook., Gen. F il: t. 115B (1842); Clarke in

Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 459 (1880), pro parte; Bedd., Handbook

69

Fems Brit. India: 98 (1883), pro parte; Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 446

(1901) ,pro parte; Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 35 (1980).

Rhizome creeping, thin, scaly; scales light brown, lanceolate. Fronds

dimorphic; sterile fronds many, short and spreading; fertile fronds (one or two)

having longer stipes and standing stiff and erect. Stipes proximate, 3-5 cm long (in

sterile fronds), 7-12 cm long (in fertile fronds), stramineous, thin, fragile, base

scaly, but higher up stipes glabrous; rachis glabrous. Sterile lamina 3- pinnate,

texture herbaceous, glabrous, 3-5 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad (at base), alternate,

shortly petiolate; pinnules obovate, base cuneate, margin deeply lobed; lobes

toothed; fertile lamina 4-8 cm long, 3-4 cm broad (at base), oblong; pinnules 0.5-

0.8 cm long, 0.2 cm broad, terminal pinnule as long as the lateral ones, pod-like,

linear, oblong or oval, shortly petiolate, margin entire, rarely forked at the tips. Sori

indusiate; sporangia on vein ends, almost covering the entire length o f the fertile

segment; indusia brown, false, margin irregularly crenate or serrate, indusial flaps

nearly reaching the costa. Spores light brown, tetrahedral, non-perinate; exine

reticulate.


Sporulation: June - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan;

Taiwan; Europe.

Ecology: A small fragile fem o f mainly the high altitude regions; grows in rock

crevices, around 2700 m altitude and above.

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg, 3600 m (Aitch. 123; R.R. Stewart 10416; Maajed

364; K.K. Dhir; S.P. Khullar); Gulmarg (J.F. Duthie 11387, CAL); Sonamarg (K.K.

Dhir 8421, 8422, PAN); Zur-Nar, Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart 215426; Fraser-

Jenkins); Kolahoi Glacier, 3300 m (K.K. Dhir); Machil, Kupwara (Wadhwa 84185,

BSD); Bamai, Gurez (Maajed 283, 309, 3226); Chorwan, Gurez; Batalik, Ladakh,

2700m (Maajed4 1 7 ,4 2 1 -4 2 4 etc.); Marbal ?ass(Clarke 31308C; T. Thomson).

Common Name: Parsley Fern (English).

Cryptogramma stelleri (Gmel.) Prantl in Engl., Bot Jahrb. 3: 413 (1882); Stewart in

Bull. Torrey B o t Club 72: 418 (1945), and in N asir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI.

W. Pak. and Kashmir: 6 (1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 67 (1984); Nakaike and

70

Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 322 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 232

(1994); Chandra, Ferns India: 60 (2000). Plate - 7 (II).

Pteris stelleri Gmel., Nov. Comm. Petr. 12: 519 (1768).

P. gracilis Michx., FI. Bor. Amer. 2: 138 (1803); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

13: 447(1901).

Pellaea gracilis (Michx.) Hook., Sp. Fil. 2: 138 (1858); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.

London II (Bot.) 1: 460 (1880).

P. stelleri (Gmel.) Baker, Syn. Fil.: 453 (1868); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India:

100(1883).

Cryptogramma gracilis (Michx.) Clute in Fem Bull. 14: 119 (1906); Dhir, Fems

N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 35 (1980).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly, scales brown. Stipes distant, 3-10 cm

long, castaneous-brown, stramineous in the distal portions, glabrous, cxcept for a

few brown, ovate scales at the base; rachis stramineous, glabrous. Sterile lamina 2-

3- pinnate, 3-6 cm long, lanceolate, herbaceous, sterile lobes or pinnules ovate,

margin crenate. Fertile lamina 2-3- pinnate, 10-16 cm long, 2-3 cm broad, pinnae c.

4 pairs, alternate, petiolate; pinnules 3-4 pairs, c. 1-2 cm long, 2-4 cm broad,

alternate, shortly petiolate, pod-like, linear, terminal pinnule always the largest (at

least twice as long as the lateral ones). Sori indusiate; sporangia located on the vein

endings, almost covering the entire length o f the pinnule; indusia false, brownish,

margin almost entire. Spores light brown, tetrahedral, tuberculate.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; N.W . Tibet; Nepal; Lake Baikal,

Siberia; Canada; North USA.

Ecology: Occasional, growing in moist shady rock crevices o f the alpine regions,

from 3100-4300 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Koragbal (R.R. Stewart); Kamri (R.R. Stewart)-, Gangabal Lakes

(R.R. Stewart); enroute Amamath (N.C. Nair 37043, BSD); Sheeshnag, 3300 m

(J.F. Duthie 13330, DD; K.K. Dhir); Sonamarg (G.A. Gammie Acc. No. 7622,

CAL); Bamai, Gurez (Wadhwa 85068, BSD; Maajed 278, 317); Kargil to Panikhar,

Ladakh (Chowdhery and Unxyal 85922, BSD); Batalik, Ladakh, 2700 m (Maajed

418,420,425).

71

Onychium Kaulf., Jahrb. Pharm. Berlin 21: 45 (1820).

Type: Onychium capense Kaulf.

The genus comprises 10 species; only one occurs in the area o f study.

Onychium cryptogrammoides Christ, Notul. Syst. 1: 52-53 (1909); C. Chr., Index

Fil. Suppl. 3: 133 (1934); Fras.-Jenk. in Bot. Helv. 102(2): 145 (1992) and New Sp.

Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 3, 315 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 29 (2000).

Cheilanthes contiguum Wall., Numer. List No. 72 (1828), nom. nud.

Onychium contiguum semu auct. India, non Wall, ex Hope, nom. superjl. for O.

lucidum (D. Don) Spreng. in L.; Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W.

Pak. and Kashmir: 7 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 33

(1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 67 (1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1:

236(1994).

Rhizome long creeping, thick, dia. 2.4-2.7 cm, apex densely scaly; scales

light brown, lanceolate. Stipes 15-30 cm long, as long as the lamina, stramineous,

base invariably black, extreme base scaly; scales brown, ovate-lanceolate, higher up

stipe glabrous; rachis stramineous, glabrous. Lamina 5 (or more)- pinnate, large,

45-60 cm long, 15-30 cm broad, broadly ovate, pentagonal or spreading, very finely

dissected, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 7-12 pairs, 8-15 cm long, 5-10 cm

broad, alternate, shortly petiolate, lowest pair the largest, deltate; sterile ultimate

lobes 0.2-0.3 cm long, less than 0.5 cm broad, linear, apex acute, margin entire;

fertile ultimate lobes broader than the sterile ones, infertile apex apiculate. Sori

indusiate, linear, grey at maturity, indusial flaps overlap on the costule. Spores light

brown tetrahedral; exine tuberculate or with ridge-like elongate projections, giving

a rugose appearance.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Thailand; Taiwan.

Ecology: A rather rare fem in Kashmir Valley, but common eastwards; occurs in

the forest floors and open places, forming colonies, between 1800-2700 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg, rare (S.P. Khullar); Pahalgam, 2200 m; Pir Panjal

(G.A. Gammie Acc. No. 7470, CAL); s. loc. (Vohra and Wadhwa 469, CAL).

Common Name: Lace Fern (English).

72

This fern has been often described in the Indian fern literature under the

name o f Onychium contiguum Wall, ex Hope. That the name was superfluous and

cannot be used was first highlighted by S. S. Singh (1992); Fraser-Jenkins (1993)

found that the correct name for this species is Onychium cryptogrammoides.

Pteridiaceae Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 13: 96 (1975).

Type: Pteridium Gled. ex Scop.

The family is represented by two genera (Ching, 1978); one genus is

recorded from our area.

Pteridium Gled. ex Scop., FI. Camiolica: 169 (1760), nom. cons.

Type'. Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn.

The genus is represented by a single species in the West Himalaya, which is

also present in the area o f study.

Pteridium revolutum (Bl.) Nakai in Bot. Mag. Tokyo 39: 109 (1925); Kuo in

Taiwania 30: 24 (1985); Fras.-Jenk. in Pak. Syst. 5: 90 (1992) and New Sp. Syndr.

Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 217 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 109 (2000).

P la te - 8 ( 1 ) .

Pteris revoluta Bl., Enum. PI. Jav.: 214 (1828).

P. wightiana W all., Numer. List No. 2178 (1829).

P. aquilina sensu Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 468 (1880), pro

parte; Bedd., Handbook Fem s Brit. India SuppL: 115 (1892), p ro parte ; Hope in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13:455 (1901), p ro parte.

Pteridium aquilinum var. wightianum (Wall, ex Ag.) Tryon in Rhodora 43: 22

(1941); Stewart in N asir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. Pi. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 7

(1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 98 (1984); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 1:

254(1994);

Rhizome wide creeping, stout, dia. 0.4-0.5 cm, with pale brown hairs. Stipes

40 cm or more long, stramineous, solid, hairy, but extrem e base densely woolly,

hairs brown, stipe becoming sparsely hairy to almost glabrous higher up; rachis

sparsely hairy, becoming glabrous. Lamina 2-3- pinnate, large, 30-60 (-150) cm

long, 30-60 cm broad, sub-deltate, texture sub-coriaceous to coriaceous, hairy, hairs

white; pinnae 10-15 pairs, alternate, distal pinnae opposite, low er pinnae the largest,

73

30 cm or more long, 10 cm broad; pinnules lanceolate, margin lobed to the costule

into numerous short 0.5-1.0 cm long lobes, which are ovate, more or less falcate,

apex obtuse, margin entire or lobed in the middle pinnae; pinnules c. 6 cm long, 1

cm broad, margin lobed almost to the costule. the middle few pairs o f pinnae

lanceolate, deeply lobed to the costa: lobes short, triangular or linear. 1.0-2.5 cm

long, the terminal few pairs o f pinnae simple; veins free, simple or forked, hairy;

costae and costules grooved on the upper surface. Sori marginal, indusiate,

continuous along the margin o f segments; indusia membranaceous. Spores brown;

exine smooth.

Cytology: n=52.

Sporulation: May - October.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Thailand;

Srilanka; Philippines; Vietnam; Taiwan; Sumatra; Java; New Guinea; Borneo.

Ecology: A fairly common fem, forming patches in open forests or grassy hill-

slopes, from 1800-2700 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg; Gulmarg, 2300 m (G.A. Gammie s.n., DD),

Nagmarg; Pahalgam, 2200 m (K.K Dhir teste Fraser-Jenkins); Pahalgam to

Chandanwari (T.A. Rao 9658, BSD); Sonamarg ( Wadhwa 85248, BSD); Sind

Valley; Banihal (T.A. Rao 7621, BSD); Chorwan, Gurez (Maajed 243, 263);

Dawar, Gurez (Maajed); K ishenganga Valley.


Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn: This fem has often been reported from Kashmir in

error for the distinctively stiff crispaceous fronded Pteridium revolutum. The true P.

aquilinum is a quite different fem , which does not occur in Indian subcontinent at

all (Fraser-Jenkins, 1997a).

Pteridaceae Ching, W ebbia 35(2): 239 (1982).

Type: Pteris L.

Pichi Sermolli (1977a) placed eight genera in the family; only one genus is

recorded from our area.

Pteris L .,Sp. PI. 2: 1073 (1753).

Type: Pteris longifolia L.

74

A large genus o f terrestrial fems; three species are recorded from our area.

Key to the Species:

la. Fronds I - pinnate:

Pteris cretica L., Mant. PI. Alt.: 130 (1767); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1: 462 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 106 (1883), pro parte;

Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 446 (1901), pro parte; Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72: 422 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W.



Pakistan 2: 323 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 261 (1994); Chandra,

Fems India: 35 (2000). P la te - 8 (II).

Rhizome short creeping, thick, scaly; scales dark brown, concolorous,

linear-lanceolate. Fronds dimorphic, sterile fronds usually smaller and bending

backwards, fertile fronds erect, with longer and stronger stipes. Stipes 10-45 cm

long (longer and erect in fertile fronds), stramineous, dark brown towards base,

thick, base sparsely scaly, higher up stipe glabrous; rachis stramineous, glabrous.

Lamina 1- pinnate, imparpinnate, 30-50 cm long, shorter than stipe, 10-30 cm

broad, lanceolate, texture herbaceous to sub-coriaceous, glabrous; pinnae 3-5 pairs,

15-20 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, opposite, petiolate, but upper ones gradually sessile,

lanceolate, margin spinulose-serrate, lowest pair o f pinnae usually forked at base.

Fertile frond sub-coriaceous; pinnae 8-10 pairs, more in number than the sterile

ones, 15-30 cm long, 0.5-1.0 cm broad, narrower than the sterile ones, opposite,

petiolate, upper pinnae sub-sessile or sessile, lanceolate, margin entire, the infertile

apex dentate-serrate, apex acuminate, lower pinnae slightly distant, usually forked

once at base. Sori indusiate, marginal, continuous. Spores brown.

Cytology: Diploid apomictic, ‘n’=58 and Tripioid apomictic, V = 8 7 .

Sporulation: Throughout the year.

2a. Lowest pinnae forked at least once.

2b. Lowest pinnae never forked............

lb.Fronds 2- pinnate or 2- pinnatifid......... .P. excelsa

.P. cretica

./*. vittata

75

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Iran; Bangladesh; Nepal; Bhutan;

Burma; Srilanka; M alaysia; Philippines; Polynesia; Australia; Africa; Europe;

America.

Ecology: A very common fern throughout the Western Himalaya, up to 3000 m

altitude, in open and shaded locations or at the margins, or in forests.

Local Distribution: Buniyar, Baramulla (Maajed 187, 191); Wagoora, Baramulla

(Maajed 12, 368, 410); Chandigam, Baramulla (Rao 9448, BSD); Jhelum Valley;

Pahalgam, 2200 m (K.K. Dhir); Srinagar; Dachigam (Wadkwa 66883, BSD).

Pteris excelsa Guad., Freyc. Voy. Bot: 388 (1827); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.

London II (Bot.) 1: 467 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 114 (1883);

Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 454 (1901); Stewart in N asir and Ali, Annot.

Cat. Vase. PL W. Pak. and Kashmir: 8 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W . Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 49 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 70 (1984); Khullar, Ulus.


Rhizome short creeping, thick, dia. 0.3-0.5 cm, with brown, concolorous,

lanceolate scales. Stipes 40-100 cm long, generally shorter or equal to the lamina,

dark brown to violet, base very dark, thick, with linear-lanceolate, dark brown

scales, higher up stipe glabrous, grooved; rachis light brown, glabrous, glossy.

Lamina 1-2- pinnate, 50-150 cm long, 20-30 cm broad, sub-deltate. texture

herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 4-8 pairs or more, 15-30 cm long, c. 1.5 cm broad,

alternate, petiolate, becom ing sub-sessile to sessile in the distal part o f lamina,

deltate to lanceolate, margin deeply lobed to the base; lobes (or pinnules) many, 5-6

cm long, 0.7-1.0 cm broad, linear-Ianceolatc, sub-falcate, the lower base decurrent,

the basiscopic lobe generally longer than the acroscopic ones, the lowest pinnae the

largest, not forked; veins free, forked, slightly raised on the lower surface. Sori

indusiate, marginal, continuous, extended from the base to about the apex o f lobe o f

pinnule; indusia somewhat broad, membranaceous, olive-green or olive-brown.

Spores brown, with tri-radiate ridge; exine smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Malaysia;

Philippines; Taiwan; Japan; Hawaii; Polynesia.

76

Ecology: Grows around 2000 m altitude, in deep stream valleys and damp shady

places.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam (L.S. Gill, PUN).

Pteris vittata L., Sp. PI. 2: 1074 (1753); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase.

PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 8 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N. W. Himal. in Biblio.



P. longifolia auct. quoad, pi. Asiat.; Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1:

461 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 106 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 13 :448(1904).

Rhizome thick, creeping, scaly; scales light brown, concolorous. Stipe

length variable, generally much shorter than the lamina, stramineous or light green,

light brown upon drying, thick, scaly and fibrillose; scales abundant at stipe-base,

light brown, narrowly linear-lanceolate, fibrils o f the same colour as the scales on

stipe but nanower. Lamina 1- pinnate, 6-100 cm long, 10-27 cm broad, oblong-

obovate, texture herbaceous to sub-coriaceous, upper surface glabrous; pinnae 20-

30 pairs, alternate, linear, base truncate or cordate, or slightly auricled, lower 5-7

pairs gradually reduced and distant, usually sterile; veins free, simple or forked.

Sori marginal, continuous. Spores light brown, non-perinate; exine tuberculate to

rugulose.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Nepal; Taiwan;

Philippines; Polynesia; Australia; M editerranean; Africa; Europe.

Ecology: A fairly common fem, from the plains up to 1500 m altitude in Western

Himalaya, though rather restricted in distribution in Kashmir Valley.

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road eastward, usually below 1500 m altitude.

Common Name: Chinese Brake Fern (English).

Adiantaceae Ching in Sunyatsenia 5: 229 (1940).

Type: Adiantum L.

Pichi Sermolli (1957, 1977) considered this family monotypic; the sole

genus Adiantum also recorded from the area o f study.

77

Adiantum L., Sp. PI. 2: 1094 (1753).

Type: Adiantum capiilus-veneris L.

The genus is represented by more than 230 species; only five are recorded

from the area under investigation.

Key to the Species:

la . Lamina 1- pinnate; rachis usually extended at the tip; proliferous terminal

vegetative bud present................................................................................... A . incisum

lb. Lamina more than 1- pinnate; rachis not extended at the tip; proliferous

vegetative bud absent:

2a. Rhizome erect; rachis dichotomously forked....................................A. pedatum

2b. Rhizome creeping; rachis not dichotomously forked:

3a. Pinnules large; sori one to each pinnule-lobe..............A . capiUus-veneris

3b. Pinnules small; sori usually one or two, rarely three to a pinnule:

4a. Lamina small with large segments, stiff, glaucous, green; sori large...

.....................................................................................................A . venustum

4b. Lamina large with smaller pinnules, lax, less glaucous, mid-green;

sori smaller............................................................................A .fim briatum

Adiantum capillus-veneris L., Sp. PI. 2: 1096 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.



Club 72: 421 (1945), and in Nasir and AH, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 4 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 30 (1980);

Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 74 (1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 289

(1994); Chandra, Fems India: 66 (2000). P late - 9 (I).

A. waltii Baker in J. Linn. Soc. 13: 381 (1881).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly; scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate.

Stipes 0.5-1.0 cm distant on rhizome, 5- (10-15-) 25 cm long, black, thin, base

scaly, higher up glabrous, glossy; rachis glabrous. Lamina 2 (-3)- pinnate in the

lower part, but progressively less pinnate in the distal part, size variable, 10-28 cm

long, 6-10 (-20) cm broad, deltate or ovate, texture light green, herbaceous,

glabrous; pinnae 8-13 pairs, 8-15 cm long, 3-10 cm broad, alternate, petiolate,

glabrous, deltate, lowest pinnae the largest, 7 cm long, 4 cm broad; ultimate lobes

78

fan-shaped and dimitidate. distal part recurved, upper outer margin oflen irregularly

lobed ’/a to Vi to the base into 3-5 obtuse shallowly lobed segments, with a finely

serrate-dentate margin in the sterile parts, terminal ultimate lobe ± fan-shaped,

cuneate; veins numerous, free, forked. Sori indusiate. elliptical or linear; indusia

light brown. Spores dark brown, tetrahedral; exine smooth.



Geographical Distribution: Native to Europe and N. America; cosmopolitan

species widely distributed in the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate parts o f the

world.

Ecology: A very common fem, occurring from the plains up to 3000 m altitude or

above, throughout the Western Himalaya; common on rocks, walls, banks of

streams, waterfalls, mouth-walls o f wells etc.

Local Distribution: W agoora, Baramulla (Maajed 08. 28, 50, 340a etc.): Shrenz.

Babareshi (Maajed 163); Jhelum Valley Road, near Rampur, Uri, 1350 m (Maajed

199, 201); Buniyar, Baramulla; Pahalgam, 2100 m (K.K. Dhir)\ Dachigam (A.S.

Rao 63578, BSD); N ishat Bagh, Srinagar ( Vishwanathan 55700, BSD); Srinagar,

1500 m (K.K. Dhir); Ladakh (Koelz).

Common Name: Maiden Hair Fern/Venus Hair Fern (English); Hansraj (Hindi);

Geuwtheer (Kashmiri).

Adiantum fimbriatum Christ in Bull. Soc. France Mem. 1: 62 (1905); Fras.-Jenk. in

Pak. Syst. 5: 92 (1992); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 302 (1994); Chandra,

Fems India: 68 (2000).

A. venustum Christ in Bull. Soc. France 1: 63 (1905), non Don.

A. bonatianum Brasuse in Hedw. 54: 206 (1914).

A. venustatum var. smithianum C. Chr. in Acta Hort. Gothob. 1: 93 (1924).

A. venustum Don var. breviserratum Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 6: 335 (1957).

Close to A. venustum in morphology, but has a larger, lax, mid-green,

thinner, less glaucous frond, with more smaller and slightly asymmetrical pinnules,

often with narrower base. The teeth at the tip are longer, narrower and more acute.

The sori are smaller, less deeply inserted in the segment margin and there are often

more o f these.

79

Cytology: Tetraploid, n=60.


Geographical Distribution: India; China; Yunnan; Nepal.

Ecology: A rare fem o f the forest floor, occurring from 2000-3000 m altitude and

above.

Local Distribution: Lolab Valley (J.C. McDonell, DD; Keshavanand 483, DD teste

Fraser-Jenkins); Pissoo Ghati in East Kashmir Valley (K.K. Dhir 3433, PAN teste

Fraser-Jenkins).

Adiantum incisum Forssk., FI. Aeg. Arab: 187 (1775); Pich. Serm. in Webbia 12:

669, f. 6 (1957); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and


Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 75 (1984); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2:

324 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 291 (1994); Chandra, Fems India:

70 (2000).

A. vestitum Walk, Numer. List No. 75 (1888), nom. nud.

A. caudatum auct. Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 83 (1883); Clarke in Trans.

Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 453 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13:

237 (1900); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 421 (1945), non L.

Rhizome short, thin, erect, densely scaly; scales brown, concolorous, linear-

lanceolate, apex acuminate. Stipes proximate, 1-5 (-11) cm long, brown, hairy, hairs

ferrugeneous, scaly, scales dense and narrower than rhizome scales; rachis hairy,

hairs as on stipe, sometimes rachis extended and bearing a proliferous vegetative

bud. Lamina 1- pinnate, 12-30 cm long, 2.5-3.0 cm broad, texture herbaceous,

slightly striate, upper surface glabrous or scantily hairy, lower surface hairy,

sometimes long hairs giving the appearance o f a hirsute pinna surface; pinnae up to

25 pairs, variable, 1.0-1.5 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm broad, alternate, shortly petiolate,

those on extended rachis variable in number and much smaller than the rest; veins

numerous, forked, free, hairy. Sori indusiate; indusia light brown, more broad than

long, hairy, margin almost entire. Spores light brown, non-perinate, smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Arabia; Tropical and South Africa.

80

Ecology-. An occasional low-lying fern, growing in rock crevices, slopes and walls,

at an altitude o f 300-1200 m.

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road to Uri (R.R. Stewart); Rampur (K.K. Dhir);

Zanskar ( Watt, K).

Common Name: Hansraj (Hindi).

Adiantumpedatum L., Sp. PI. 2: 1095 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London

II (Bot.) 1: 453 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 86 (1883); Hope in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13; 241 (1900); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 421

(1945), and in N asir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. Pi. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 4 (1972);

Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 32 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian

Pterid.: 75 (1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 299 (1994); Chandra, Fems

India: 72 (2000). P la te - 9 (II).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, scaly; scales dark brown, concolorous, broad

lanceolate to linear-Ianceolatc. Stipes 20-30 (-50) cm long, dark brown to

castaneous-red, thick, glossy, sparsely scaly at base, rest glabrous; rachis brown to

castaneous-red, dichotomously forked, with the pinnae placed in a fan-like

arrangement, glossy, glabrous. Lamina 3- pinnate, 15-40 cm long, 7-10 cm broad,

fan-shaped, flabellately branched, forked from the stipe top into two lateral

branches, each branch with 4-6 pinnae, texture thin, herbaceous, green, glabrous;

pinnae 4-6 (-10) pairs on each lateral branch, pinnate, 9-15 (-35) cm long, 1-2 (-3)

cm broad, lincar-lanceolate, central pinna the largest, erect, lateral ones gradually

shortened towards the outside o f the lamina; pinnules 18-50 pairs, 1.0-1.5 cm long,

0.5-0.7 cm broad, lower ones opposite, upper alternate; veins forked, free. Sori

indusiate; indusia light brown, transversely oblong, glabrous. Spores light brown.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Japan; Canada;

N. America.

Ecology: Grows on forest slopes, at 2000 m altitude and higher up.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (R.R. Stewart; Maajed93, 95); Tragbal (R.R. Stewart);

Aru, Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart; Maajed 387); Pahalgam; M unda to Banihal (Stokoe,

R. McLeod, J.F. Duthie, R.R. Stewarty Marten etc.); Bagtore-Burzil Nallah, Gurez

81

(Wadhwa 84036, BSD); Kishenganga Valley (J.FD uthie 14111, DD); Kanzalwan,

Gurez (J.F Duihie 12619, CAL).

Common Name: Northern Maiden Hair Fern/Pointer Weed (English).

Adiantum venustum D. Don, Prodr. FI. Nepal: 17 (1825), non Christ; Clarke in


India: 86, t. 45 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 241 (1890); Stewart

in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 421 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase.

PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 4 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 32 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 76 (1984); Nakaike and

Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 325 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 301

(1994); Chandra, Fems India: 74 (2000). Plate - 10 (I).

A. fimbriatum Christ in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 52 Mem. 1: 62 (1905), p ro parte.

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly; scales dark brown, concolorous,

lanceolate. Stipes 10-20 cm long, dark brown, thick, base scaly; scales light browni,

concolorous, lanceolate, glossy; rachis glabrous, glossy. Lamina 3-4- pinnate, 20-30

cm long, 15-20 cm broad, deltate, texture thin, herbaceous, upper surface pale

green, lower often bluish, glabrous; pinnae c. 5 pairs, 10 cm long, 4 cm broad,

deltate-ovate, alternate, petiolate, lowest pair the largest; ultimate lobes (pinnules)

4-5 pairs, small, 1 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm broad, obcuneate to obovate, alternate,

petiolate, regularly toothed with small acute teeth, never aristate, or serrate in sterile

pinnules, fertile pinnules with 2 or 3 notches; veins free, forked, prominent on both

surfaces. Sori indusiate; indusia light brown, reniform. Spores light brown, smooth.

Cytology. Octaploid sexual, n=120.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; W. China; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: A common fem o f the forest floor, from 2000-3000 m altitude and above.

Local Distribution'. Shrenz, Babareshi (Maajed 155, 161); Gulmarg (G.A. Gammie

s . n CAL; Maajed 108, 112, 344); Am, Pahalgam (Maajed 379); Amamath, 3300

m (K.K. Dhir)\ Dachigam, Bhampura area (Rao 63610, BSD); Yarikhal (Rao 154,

BSD); Bamai, Gurez (Maajed 287); Gurez (Wadhwa 83883, BSD).

Common Name: Geuwtheer (Kashmiri).

82

H em ion itidaceae Pich. Serm. in Webbia 21: 487 (1966).

Type: Hemionitis L.

The family is represented by 22 genera (Pichi Scrmolli, 1977); only one

genus is recorded from the study area.

Coniogramme Fee, Gen. Fil.: 167 (1850-1852), nom. cons.

Type: Coniogramme javanica (Bl.) Fee ex Diels.

A genus o f about 20 species; only one is recorded from the area o f study.

Coniogramme intermedia Hieron. in Hedw. 57: 310 (1916); Stewart in Nasir and

Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 6 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal.

in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 44 (1980); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 320

(1994); Chandra, Fems India: 79 (2000).

Gymnogramme javanica sensu Hook., Sp. Fil. 5: 142 (1863). pro parte.

Syngramma fraxinea sensu Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 386 (1883), pro

parte.

Coniogramme fraxinea sensu Diels in Engler and Prantl, Nat. Pflanz. Fam. 1(4):

262(1899).

Rhizome long creeping, scaly; scales brown, concolorous, lanceolate,

acuminate. Stipes 0.5-1.0 cm distant on the rhizome, 20-40 cm long, stramineous,

thick, broadly grooved on the upper surface, lower surface plano-convex, glabrous;

rachis stramineous, glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate, up to 60 cm long, 30 cm broad,

ovate or narrowly triangular-deltate, light green, texture thin, herbaceous, both

surfaces glabrous or very sparsely hairy; pinnae 3-10 pairs, lowest pair the largest,

up to 20 cm long, 15 cm broad, distant, alternate, petiolate, the terminal pinna as

large as the lateral ones, upper lateral pinnae petiolate, or becom ing ± sessile,

simple, or sometimes the second pair generally pinnate or lobed, up to 20 cm long,

3-4 cm broad, alternate, petiolate, upper lateral pinnae petiolate, or becoming ±

sessile, ± lanceolate, base rotundo-cuneate, apex gradually caudate or attenuate.

Sori exindusiate; spores yellowish-brown; exine granulose.


Sporulation: August - November.

Geographical Distribution'. India; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Japan.

Ecology: Occurs in the forests, above 2000 m altitude.

83

Local Distribution: Pahalgam, 2400 m {K.K. Dhir); Reran, Kishenganga Valley

(R.R. Stewart 17492, RAW teste Fraser-Jenkins); Margan Pass, Moragnala

(Meebold 2584, K, CAL).


Coniogramme caudata (Wall, ex Ettingsh.) Ching: This fern was erroneously

reported by Dixit and followed by many authors; the specimen from Keran (R.R.

Stewart 17492, RAW) being C. intermedia (Fraser-Jenkins, 1992).

M arsileaceae Mirbel in Lam. et Mirbel, Hist. Nat. Veg. 5: 126 (1802) (1803).

Type: Marsilea L.

The family comprises three genera; one genus is recorded from the area o f

study.

Marsilea L., Sp. PI. 2: 1099 (1753).

Type: Marsilea quadrifolia L.

Chowdhary (1973) recorded 12 species in India; only one occurs in our area.

Marsilea minuta L., Mant: 308 (1771); Gupta, Marsilea Mon.: 23 (1962); Stewart

in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 425 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase.



Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 335 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 423 (2000).Plate - 10 (II).

M. minuta var. major Haines in Bot. Bihar and Orissa 3: 1272 (1924).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, glabrous, apex hairy, hairs light brown. Stipes

2-5 cm distant on the rhizome, length variable, 2-15 cm, greenish, thin, glabrous;

pinnae 1-2 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad, obcuneate, margin entire or toothed or

crenate; veins many, anastomosing obliquely, glabrous. Sorocarps usually bom e in

pairs, sometimes many, free from the stipe and also from each other, basal,

pedicelate; pedicels short, c. twice as long as the body o f the sorocarp, 0.5-1.0 cm

long, glabrous; sorocarp body 0.3-0.6 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm broad, bean-shaped,

distinctly ribbed and bordered, hairy, hairs light brown. Megaspores ellipsoidal;

microspores yellowish, oval to almost rounded.

Cytology: Diploid, n=20 and a sterile triploid, 2n=60.

Sporulation'. September - March.

84

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Taiwan; Srilanka; Philippines;

Java.

Ecology: Grows in ditches, small ponds, rice-fields. lake-banks etc.. from the plains

up to 1800 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 51. 66, 153); Dal Lake, Srinagar

(Wadhwa and Vohra 118, CAL); small lakes and rice fields near Srinagar, 1500 m

(K.K. Dhir).

Common Name: Pajlu (Kashmiri) (Sood et al., 2005); Chaupatti (Hindi).


Marsilea quadrifolia L.: This species has been reported from the Kashmir Valley.

However, the Kashmir material (including several fertile ones) in herbaria is

Marsilea minuta (confirmed by Fraser-Jenkins, Bhardwaja and Jarrett, as

communicated to Khullar and Chowdhary respectively).

D ennstaedtiaceae Pich. Serm. in W ebbia24: 704 (1970).

Type: Dennstaedtia Bemh.

The family comprises nine genera (Nayar 1974; Pichi Sermolli, 1977); only

one genus is recorded from our area.

Dennstaedtia Bemh. in Schrad. J. Bot. 1800(2): 124, t. 3 (1801).

Type: Dennstaedtia flaccida (G. Forst.) Bemh.

The genus is represented by two species in the West Himalaya; only one is

recorded from the area under investigation.

Dennstaedtia wilfordii (T. Moore) Christ, Geogr. d. Fame: 195 (1910); C. Chr.,

Index Fil. Suppl. 1: 24 (1913); Khullar, Illus. Fem FL W. Himal. 1: 362 (1994);


Microlepia wilfordii T. M oore, Index Fil.: 299 (1861); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.

Club 72: 413 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 7 (1972); Dhir, Fem sN .W . Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 53 (1980).

Davallia wilfordii (T. Moore) Baker, Syn. Fil.: 98 (1867); Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 13:33 (1899).

Rhizome small, short creeping, thin, dark. Stipes as long as the lamina, 10-

15 cm long, thin, stramineous, but blackish at base, glabrous; rachis glabrous.

85

Lamina 2- pinnate (3- pinnatifid), small, 15-20 cm long, 5-8 cm broad, elongated,

triangular-lanceolate, texture thinly herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 2.0-2.5 cm long.

1.5 cm broad, petiolate, margin sharply toothed, deeply lobed to the costa; pinnules

broadly ovate, rhombic, margin sharply toothed; veins forked. Sori 2-6 per pinna, at

the apex o f veins, indusiate; indusia bi-valved, cup-shaped, membranaceous,

margin erose, free. Spores yellowish-brown, non-perinate; exine smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; N.E. China; Japan; Korea.

Ecology: Rare, in moist shaded situations, near streams or irrigation channels.

Local Distribution: First reported by McDonell in 1897, from Jhelum Valley Road,

in damp soil, below water course in Buniyar Nallah, Rampur, Uri, c. 1350 m

altitude; same location (R.R. Stewart 9487, 11133; 15521, DD); Kishenganga

Valley (A.R. Beg).

Lindsaeaceae Pich. Serm. in Webbia 24: 707 (1970).

Type: Lindsaea Dryander ex J. Sm.

A family o f nine genera (Pichi Sermolli, 1977); only one genus is recorded

from the study area.

Sphenomeris Maxon in J. Washington Acad. Sci. 3: 144 (1913), nom. cons.

Type: Sphenomeris clavata (L.) Maxon.

The genus is represented by a single species in India, which is also recorded

for the first time from the area o f study.

Sphenomeris chinensis (L.) Maxon in J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 3: 144 (1913); Nakaike,

Enum. Pterid. Japon. Fil.: 52 (1975); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 56 (1980); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 376 (1994);

Chandra, Fems India: 118 (2000). P la te - 1 1 (I).

Trichomanes chinensis L., Sp. PI. 2: 1099 (1753).

Davallia chinensis (L.) sensu Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 449

(1880).

Stenoloma chinensis (L.) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 70 (1883).

Rhizome short creeping, thick, dia. 0.5 cm or more, scaly and fibrillose;

fibrils dark brown, hair-like. Stipes 15-20 cm long, stramineous or light brown,

thick, dia. 0.1-0.2 cm, fibrillose at base; fibrils as on rhizome, rest o f stipe glabrous,

grooved on the adaxial side; rachis glabrous. Lamina 3- pinnate, 10-40 cm long, 12

cm broad, lanceolate or ovate, thin, texture sub-coriaceous, glabrous; pinnae many,

10-15 cm long, 5-8 cm broad, close together, alternate, oblique, deltate; pinnules 1-

2 cm long, 0.5-1.0 cm broad, alternate, petiolate, oblique, deltate, basal acroscopic

one the largest; basal lobes more divided than those towards the pinna apex,

ultimate lobes 3-5 pairs, up to 0.5 cm long, 0.1-0.2 cm broad (at apex) which is

slightly toothed, base cuncatc, margin variously lobed (into 3-5 narrow segments);

veins usually 2 or 3 in each ultimate lobe, free, glabrous; costae and costules

glabrous. Sori indusiate, terminal on veins, sometimes touching each other; indusia

brown, close to the apex o f the ultimate lobes, basally attached, apex lobed. Spores

brown, almost translucent, perinate.

Cytology: n=100.

Sporulation: July — September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Srilanka; Malaysia; Polynesia; Japan; E. African

Islands.

Ecology. Rare, growing in crevices o f dry exposed rocks, from 1500-2200 m

altitude; recorded for the first time from the Valley region.

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road, near Rampur, 1350 m (.Maajed 196).

Common Name: Parsley Fern (English).

Aspleniaceae Mett. ex Frank in Leunis, Syn. Pflanzenk ed. 2, 3: 1465 (1877).

Type: Asplenium L.

The family is represented by a single genus, which is also recorded from the

study area.

Asplenium L., Sp. PI. 2: 1078 (1753).

Type: Asplenium marinum L.

In the West Himalaya, the genus is represented by about 30 species and 9

hybrids; in our area, it is well represented by 13 species and a sole hybrid.

87

Key to the Species and Hybrids:

la. Lamina simple, margin entire or deeply pinnatifid:

2a. Lamina lower surface densely scaly; indusia vestigial:

3a. Stipes 2-3 cm long, stipe-scales pale; lamina densely scaly on the under

surface, scales fringing the edges o f the lamina........................A . ceterach

3b. Stipes 3-5 cm long: stipe-scales dark: lamina sparsely scaly on the under

surface, scales not fringing the edges o f the lamina............. A . punjabense

2b. Lamina lower surface glabrous; indusia well-developed............A . dalhousiae

lb . Lamina variously compound:

4a. Lamina simple pinnate:

5a. Lamina small, 3-5 cm long, with a few lateral pinnae:

6a. Lamina dichotomously 2-3- partite into linear, narrow, alternate

segments or pinnae........................................................A. septentrionale

6b. Lamina with 3-5 pairs o f small cuneiform pinnae, which are often 2-

3- lobed, with a narrow cuneate base and apex sharply and deeply

toothed............................................................................. A x alternifolium

5b. Lamina longer, 5-15 (-30) cm long, with many lateral pinnae:

7a. Stipes short, 1-5 cm long, whole stipes and rachis dark purple to

almost black, glossy; rachis with narrow brown lateral w ings..............

...............................................................................................A . trichomanes

7b. Stipes long, 10-15 cm long, dark brown only at base, rest green;

rachis green, not winged..........................................................A. ramosum

4b. Lamina bi-pinnatifid or bi-pinnate or more:

8a. Plants robust; lamina large, not finely dissected ....A . adiantum-nigrum

8b. Plants delicate; lamina small, finely dissectcd:

9a. Pinnae few, 1-4 pairs....................................................... A . ruta-muraria

9b. Pinnae many:

10a. Lamina sub-tri-pinnate or more...........................................................

............................................ A .fontanum subsp . pseudo/ontanum

10b. Lamina bi-pinnate:

11a. Fronds stiff; ultimate segments contracted. ..^ ,p ek in en se

l ib . Fronds soft, delicate; ultimate segments not contracted:

88

12a. Lamina deltate or elongate triangular-lanceolatc;

stipe-base black coloured..........................A . aitchisonii

12b. Lamina lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate; stipe-base

straw or light brown in colour:

13a. Lamina mid- to dark green, not very finely

dissected; pinna-apex a large fused segment;

pinnules sessile, or if stipitate, then the stalk

short, and not very fine................... A . laciniatum

13b. Lamina pale green, finely dissected, segments

well separated; pinna-apex not a large fused

segment; pinnules borne on relatively long, thin

delicate stalks...................................A . kukkonenii

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L., Sp. PI. 2: 1081 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn.

Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 483 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 156

(1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 661 (1901); Stewart in Nasir and

Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 17 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W.


(1984); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 385 (1994); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp.

Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 44 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 257 (2000).

P la te - 1 1 (II).

Rhizome short creeping or decumbent, or ascending, scaly; scales dark

brown. Stipes 12-16 (-20) cm long, dark purple to almost blackish, thin, glossy,

extreme base scaly; scales blackish, lanceolate, higher up the stipe only scantily

fibrillose; rachis firm, stramineous or dark brown, fibrillose. Lamina 2-3 (-4)-

pinnate, generally 3- piruiatifid at base, apex pinnate, 10-25 cm long, 4-12 cm

broad, triangular-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, texture thick, coriaceous, grey-

green, glabrous; pinnae 5-9 (-15) pairs, 3-6 cm long, 2-4 cm broad, alternate,

petiolate, deltate-ovate, acroscopic basal pinnule the largest, deeply lobed to the

costa; lobes 2-5 pairs, ovate or oblong, apex acute or acuminate, margin acutely

dentate-serrate; veins forked, obscure, glabrous. Sori indusiate, linear, nearer the

costa than the margin, almost confluent at maturity; indusia whitish,

membranaceous, margin entire or sinuate. Spores dark brown, perinate.

89

Cytology: Tetraploid sexual, n- 72.

Sporulation: September - October.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Iran; W. Asia; Turkey; W.

Nepal; N.W. Africa; S. Africa; Europe; N. America.

Ecology: Extremely common; grows along stream sides or among rocks in forests,

between 1800-3000 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 09, 182); Ghantamula, Baramulla

(Maajed36, 73, 366 etc.); Thyan, Baramulla (Wadhwa 66751, BSD; Meebold2588,

CAL); Shrenz, Babareshi (Maajed 171); Jhelum Valley Road, near Rampur, Uri,

1350 m (Maajed 197); Gulmarg; Tangmarg, 2100 m (K.K. Dhir); Harwan, Srinagar

(Maajed 207); Aru, Pahalgam (Maajed 393b); Pahalgam, 2200 m (K.K. Dhir);

Udder Valley; Kokem ag (Maajed 383, 397, 400 etc.); Sind Valley, 2000 m (G.A.

Gammie 9126, DD); Lolab Valley (Champion 50807, DD); Kishenganga Valley,

Surkhala.

Common Name: Black Spleenwort (English); Sheen-gassa (Kashmiri).

Asplm ium aitchisonii Fras.-Jenk. et Reichstein in Candollea 37; 341 (1982);

Khullar in Indian Fem J. I: 89 (1984); Pande in Indian Fem J. 7; 170 (1990);

Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 388 (1994); Chandra, Fem s India: 258 (2000).

Rhizome short, erect or ascending, apex scaly; scales dark brown, broad

lanceolate. Fronds somewhat pressed back against the rocks. Stipes 2.5-3.0 cm

long, usually ± as long as, or longer than the lamina, thin, green, but base dark

brown, sparsely scaly or fibrillose, higher up becoming glabrous; rachis thin, green,

glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate at base, 2- pinnatifid at the distal part, 2.5-5.0 cm long,

c. 1.5 cm broad, broadest at base or a little above, elongate, deltate or triangular-

lanceolate, dark green, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 3-8 (-10) pairs, 0.3-1.2

(-1.8) cm long, ± confluent towards lamina apex, the lowest or the next pair the

longest, lowest tw o pairs 0.5-2.0 cm distant from each other, the larger ones with

pinnules c. 2 cm broad and a deeply pinnatifid apex, sm aller pinnae ± pinnatifid,

entire; pinnules 0.3-0.5 cm long, 0.15-0.4 cm broad, base cuneiform, apex roundish,

margin toothed. Sori indusiate; indusia light brown, linear, m argin crenulate. Spores

brown, large, perinate.

Cytology: Hexaploid sexual, n=108.

90


Geographical Distribution: India: Pakistan; China; Bhutan; Tibet.

Ecology: A rather uncommon fem, growing in crevices on the north side o f open

rocks and cliffs, between 2500-4200 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Lidder Valley, north-east o f Pahalgam, Upper C’hatponsal

Nallah, near Bajipath (Fraser-Jenkins).

Asplenium * alternifolium Wulfen, Jacq. Misc. Austr. Bot. 2: 51, t. 5. f. 2 (1781);

Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 390 (1994); Chandra. Fems India: 282 (2000).

(=A. septentrionale x A. trichomanes).

A. x breynii Retz., Obs. Bot. 1: 32 (1779), nom nud.

A. * germanicum Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 660 (1901), non Weis

(1770).

A. septentrionale x A. trichomanes C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 131 (1905); Stewart in

Nasirand Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 18 (1972).

A. x germanicum auct. Crabbe, Jermy et Lovis, FI. Europ. 1 :1 6 (1964); Dutta and

Ghosh in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 27: 158, 160 (1985).

Rhizome short, erect or ascending, densely covered with numerous stipe

bases, scaly; scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate, glossy. Stipes 4-6 cm long,

longer than lamina, thin, fragile, green, but basal 1-3 cm dark brown, glabrous,

glossy; rachis green, glabrous. Lamina 1- pinnate, small, 3-5 cm long, up to c. 1 cm

broad, linear-lanceolate or deltate-lanceolate, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae

few, 3-5 pairs, besides the pinnatifid apex, small, 0.5-1.5 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm

broad, distant, alternate, petiolate, oblanceolate-cuneiform, often 2-3 lobed, base

narrow, cuneate, apex sharply and deeply toothed, the lowest pair deeply lobed into

3-5 independent lobes (pinnules); veins simple, forked. Sori indusiate, 1-2 (-3) on a

pinnule; indusia light brown, persistent. Spores dark brown, almost globular or

bilateral, irregular perinate, spiny.

Cytology: Tripioid, n=108.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; W. Asia; Europe.

Ecology: A rare fern, occurring between 2100- 2400 m altitudes, in rock crevices.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam, on a large boulder, 2200 m (R.R. Stewart 7883,

21658, DD; T.A. Rao 548, BSD); Tulin Lake, north-east o f Pahalgam, 2500 m

91

(Dutta and Ghosh 581594, CAL; K.M. Vaid 118097, DD); Kishenganga Valley

(McDonell); Safed Koh (Collett 97).

Asplenium ceterach L., Sp. PI. 2: 1080 (1753); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

14: 265 (1902); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 504 (1880);

Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 398 (1994). P la te - 12 (I).

Ceterach ojjicinarum Willd., Anleit. Selbstrud. Bot.: 578 (1804); DC. ex Lam. et

DC., FI. Franc. 2: 566 (1805); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W.

Pak. and Kashmir: 19 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1:

114 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 123 (1984); Chandra, Fems India: 284

(2000 ).

Hemidictyum ceterach (L.) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 194 (1883).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly; scales dark brown, bicolorous, lanceolate.

Stipes short, 2-3 (-8) cm long, brown, densely scaly; scales brown, concolorous,

broad lanceolate, glossy; rachis scaly, scales as on stipe. Lamina simple, but deeply

pinnatifid, 5-12 (-15) cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm broad, linear, thick, sub-coriaceous,

lower surface densely scaly, scales as on rachis, upper surface glabrous, lamina

margin deeply lobed, the lobing at times reaching the rachis; lobes 10-15 pairs, 0.5-

1.5 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm broad, triangular to oblong to ovate, alternate, apex obtuse,

margin entire, sinus round, 0.5 cm wide, the lower lobes gradually reduced and

distant towards base; veins simple or forked, anastomosing towards the margin.

Sori usually exindusiate, linear; indusia rudimentary, fugacious or absent. Spores

brown, perinate.

Cytology. Tetraploid sexual, n=72.

Sporulation: June - October.

Geographical Distribution'. India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; W. Asia; N.W. Africa; C.

Europe.

Ecology: Fairly common, from 900-2100 m altitude, on dry exposed rocks or walls.

Local Distribution: Ghantamula, Baramulla (Maajed 57); W agoora, Baramulla

(Maajed); Jhelum Valley Road (R.R. Stewart); Harwan, Srinagar (Maajed);

Mountain behind Dal Lake (R.R. Stewart); N ishat Gardens, 1800 m (K.K, Dhir);

Srinagar Hills, 2100 m (T.A. Rao 789, BSD); Dachigam, Vanpora (AS. Rao 63537,

92

BSD); Sonamarg, 2500 m (G.A. Gammie s.n.t DD); Naranag (R.R. Stewart); Lower

Kishenganga Valley (R.R. Stewart).

Common Name: Rusty Black Fern (Knglish).

Asplenium dalhousiae Hook.. Icon PI.: t. 105 (1837); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in

Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 113 (1980); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 1: 268

(1992) and 2: 329 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1; 401 (1994);

Chandra, Fems India: 261 (2000). Plate - 12 (II).

A. alternans Wall, ex H ook.///., Sp. Fil. 3: 82 (1860); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.



Ceterach dalhousiae (Hook.) C. Chr., Index Fil. I: 170 (1905); Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72: 417 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W.

Pak. and Kashmir: 19 (1972).

Ceterachopsis dalhousiae (Hook.) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 10: 9

(1940); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 123 (1984).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly; scales brown, linear-lanceolate. Stipes short,

0.5-3.0 (-5.0) cm long, brown, thin, scaly; scales brown, linear-lanceolate; rachis

brown, straight or wavy, scaly, scales as on stipe. Lamina simple but deeply

pinnatifid, 8-30 cm long, 2 cm broad, narrowed tow'ards the base, texture thick, sub-

coriaceous, apex acuminate, margin variously lobed, and at times approaching a

pinnate condition; lobes (or pinnae) c. 20 pairs, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 0.4-0.7 cm broad,

triangular-oblong or ovate, alternate from one side to the other, apex obtuse, margin

almost entire or crenately lobed, hyaline, lower lobes gradually reduced and

becoming distant towards base; veins forked, free, glabrous. Sori indusiate,

extending from the costa to almost the margin, linear; indusia brown, persistent.

Spores brown, perinate.


Sporulation: Major part o f the year.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Nepal; Bhutan; USA;

Mexico.

Ecology. A fairly common fem, growing abundantly throughout mainly the outer

parts o f the Western Himalaya, from 500-3000 m altitude.

93

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 71, 1756, 341, 347); Buniyar,

Baramulla (Maajed 200); Jhclum Valley Road (R.R. Stewart); Shrenz, Babareshi

(Maajed 265); Harwan, Srinagar (Maajed 203); Dachigam, Vanpora (A.S. Rao

63548, BSD); Pahalgam, 2200 m (A .A'. Dhir): Lower Kishenganga Valley (R.R.

Stewart); Pir Panjal, 2300 m (G.A. Gammie s.n., DD).

Asplertium fontanum (L.) Bemh. subsp. pseudofontanum (Koss.) Reichstein et

Schneller in Candollea 37: 123 (1982); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1: 408

(1994); Chandra, Ferns India: 265 (2000). P late - 13 (I).

A. pseudofontanum Koss., Notul. Syst. Herb. Bot. Petropol. 3: 122 (1922); Stewart

inN asirand Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 18 (1972).

Rhizome short, ascending, apex with brown, broad, lanceolate scales. Stipes

short, 4-8 (-10) cm long, thin, fragile, adaxial side blackish at base, rest green, on

abaxial side, the entire stipe and the lower part o f the rachis often dark with green

margins, scantly scaly and fibrillose; rachis scantly fibrillose or almost glabrous.

Lamina finely dissected, 2- pinnate, sub-tripinnate or 3- pinnate or more, the longer

middle pinnae sub-tripinnate, 8-20 cm long, 1.5-5.0 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate,

narrowed towards both ends, broadest above middle, light green to greyish-green,

texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae many, 10-20 (-30) pairs, c. 2.6 cm long, 1 cm

broad, alternate, very shortly petiolate, lanceolate, basal pairs gradually becoming

distant, reduced, sessile and less dissected, the longer central pinnae with more

pinnules, the largest somewhat overlapping; pinnules with both margins lobed, apex

o f lobes acute, basal pinnules the largest and divided into 3-5 (-7) irregular

triangular-ovate lobes, subsequent ones narrower and less divided or undivided,

becoming decurrent and confluent. Sori indusiate, 1-2 per lobe at maturity, covering

the entire segments; indusia small, elongated. Spores dark brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Uzbekistan; Turkey; W.

Nepal; Europe.

Ecology: Fairly common, growing on rocks, cliffs or amongst boulders, between

2700-3000 m altitudes.

94

Local Distribution: Ferozepur Nallah, Tangmarg (Maajed 126); Wagoora,

Baramulla (Maajed); Rampur; Jhelum Valley (R.R. Stewart); Sonamarg, 2100 m

(Bhattacharyya 41254, BSD): Sonamarg, 3000 m (G.A. Gammie s . n DD);

Pahalgam, 2200 m (K.K. Dhir); Aru, Pahalgam (Maajed 374, 381); enroute

Lidderwatt. 2200-3000 m (K.K Dhir); Aru to Nafran, enroute Kolahoi Glacier;

Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart); Kintmala Nallah. Lidder Valley (Inayat 25786, DD);

Aharbal-Kungwatan (T.A. Rao 9275, BSD); Sind Valley; Kishenganga Valley,

3000 m (Keshavanand 639, DD; R.R. Stewart); Chorwan, Gurez (Maajed 225, 234,

335 etc.); Gurez (J.F. Duthie 14084, CAL); Leh to Kang, Shingo Valley, Ladakh.

This fem has been treated under A. fontanum (L.) Bemh. by most workers

on Himalayan fems (Stewart, 1945; Dhir, 1980 etc.), following Beddome and

Hooker. Later the Asian fems were described as A. pseudofontanum Koss.

Reichsteln and Schneller (1982) showed that since there are very minor differences

between European A. fontanum and the Asian plants, the latter should be treated as

A. fontanum subsp. pseudofontanum (Khullar, 1994).

Asplenium kukkonenii Viane, Rasbach et Reichstein in Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 1 :416(1994).

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly; scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate.

Stipes short, 2-3 cm long, green, but blackish at its extreme base, thin, sparsely

scaly; scales narrow linear-lanceolate, higher up the stipe sparsely scaly or

glabrous; rachis thin, green, glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate, 8-10 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm

broad, broadest about the middle, narrowly lanceolate, apex long, narrow, often

with fused apical segments, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 8-10 pairs, 1.0-1.5

cm long, 0.5 cm broad, alternate, ovate or broadly lanceolate, margin deeply

pinnatifid, fourth pair o f pinnae usually the largest; pinnules (segments) small,

rounded with acute teeth, lowest acroscopic segment the largest, always free, very

shortly stalked. Sori indusiate; indusia membranaceous. Spores dark brown,

perinate.


Sporulation: M ay - November.

Geographical Distribution; India; Pakistan; W. Nepal.

95

Ecology: Occasional, between 1600-2500 m altitudes, in forests and on m oist

shaded rocks.

Local Distribution: N orth-east o f Srinagar, G anderbal to Sonam arg, 3 km east o f

Gund, south side o f Sind Valley, 2400 m (Fraser-Jenkins 6603, 6606); L idder

Valley, Pahalgam, 7,200 ft (R.R. Stewart 21780c, K); G ulm arg (S.P. Khullar);

Sonamarg (R.R. Stewart); Tragbal (R.R. Stewart).

Asplenium laciniatum D. Don, Prodr. FI. N epal: 8 (1825); K hullar, Illus. Fem FI.

W. Himal. 1: 418 (1994). Plate - 13 (II).

A. varians W all, ex Hook, et Grev., Icon. Fil. 2: t. 172 (1830); C larke in Trans.

Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 485 (1880); Bedd., H andbook F em s Brit. India: 158

(1883); Hope in J. B om bay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 667 (1901); S tew art in N asir and

Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and K ashm ir: 18 (1972); D hir, F em s N .W .

Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 112 (1980); D ixit, Cens. Indian P terid .: 122

(1984); Chandra, F em s India: 280 (2000).

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly; scales dark brown, linear to oblong-

lanceolate. Stipes 5-10 cm long, green, but usually the lower basal 1-2 cm dark

brown to blackish, thin, scaly; scales brown, linear-lanceolate, higher up stipe

becoming sparsely scaly to fibrillose to glabrous; rachis thin, green, glabrous.

Lamina 2- pinnate, 5-15 (-20) cm long, 1.5-4.5 cm broad, broadest below the

middle, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, texture herbaceous to sub-coriaceous,

glabrous; pinnae 8-14 pairs, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad, alternate, petiolate,

ovate or broad lanceolate, margin deeply pinnate, the lowest pair o f pinnae usually

a little shorter than the second pair, which may be o f the same size or a little longer,

or at times as long as the largest third or fourth pairs; pinnules 2-3 per pinna, c. 0.5-

1.0 cm long, alternate, petiolate, obtuse or almost triangular, base cuneate, apex

toothed, margin entire, the basal acroscopic pinnule usually the largest and

sometimes more deeply lobed. Sori indusiate, elongated; indusia membranaceous,

almost entire. Spores dark brown, perinate.


Sporulation: September - November.

Geographical Distribution-. India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Srilanka;

S. Africa.

96

Ecology: Occasional, between 1600-3000 m altitudes, in forests and on moist

shaded rocks, or even at the bases o f tree trunks.

local Distribution: Aru, Pahalgam (Maajed 370); Pahalgam, 2200 m (K.K. Dhir;

R.R. Stewart); Naubug (R.R. Stewart); Jhelum Valley; Lidder Valley; Ladakh

(.Maajed 450).

The true A. lacinialum sensu Don (1825) was mistaken by the earlier

authors like Beddome, Clarke, Hope etc. and misapplied to what is now correctly

called A. gueinzianum Mett. ex Kuhn (Fraser-Jenkins, 1997a).

Asplenium pekinense Hance in J. Bot. 1867: 262 (1867); Clarke in Trans. Linn.

Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 483 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 156


(1972); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 330 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem

FI. W. Himal. 1: 427 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 271 (2000).

A. sarelii Hook., Blakiston, Yangtsze: 363 (1862); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.

Club 72: 417 (1945); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 110

(1980).

A. saulii Baker in Hook, et Baker, Syn. Fil: 216 (1874); Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 13:661 (1901).

Rhizome erect, apex scaly; scales blackish-brown, lanceolate. Stipes 3-8 cm

long, ventrally flattened, green, sparsely scaly, with numerous long, narrow, dark

scales towards stipe-base. Lamina 2- pinnate to 3- pinnatifid, finely dissected, stiff,

narrow, 6-15 cm long, 1.5-4.0 cm broad, lanceolate, base attenuate, apex acuminate,

glabrous; pinnae 8-12 pairs, 1.0-2.5 cm long, 0.6-1.5 cm broad, lower 1-2 pairs

shorter than those above, alternate or sub-opposite, very shortly petiolate, obovate

or ovate, base cuneate, apices acute, 1- pinnate or 2- pinnatifid; pinnules 2-4 pairs,

opposite or alternate, obovate or cuneate, base attenuate and stalk-like, apices

obtuse, the first pair largest, with 1-2 pairs o f lobes; lobes contracted, narrow, acute,

cuneate, apices acute or with two acute teeth. Sori linear, short, indusiate; indusia

thick, membranaceous, greyish-white.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; W. Nepal; Japan; Taiwan.

97

Ecology. A rather rare fem, growing as a lithophyte or on banks and walls, from

600 to 2500 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam, 2100 m (K.K. Dhir); Jhelum Valley Road (Levinge);

Rampur to Uri (R. McLeod; E. W. Trotter),

Asplenium punjabense Bir, Fras.-Jenk. et Lovis in Fem Gaz. 13: 53 (1985); Fras.-

Jenk. in Pak. Syst. 5: 98 (1992); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 1: 268


(2000). P la te - 1 4 (I).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly; scales dark brown, bicolorous, lanceolate.

Stipes 2 (-3-5) cm long, brownish, scaly; scales brown, lanceolate, concolorous,

glossy; rachis scaly, scales as on stipe. Lamina simple, 10-20 cm long, c. 2 cm

broad, linear, thick, sub-coriaceous, lower surface scaly, upper glabrous, lamina

margin deeply pinnatifid, the lobing sometimes reaching the rachis; lobes 10-15

pairs, 1 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm broad, triangular to oblong to ovate, alternate, apex

obtuse, margin entire, lower lobes gradually reduccd and distant towards base;

veins 4-5 per lobe, simple, forked, anastomosing towards margin. Sori indusiate, c.

0.2 cm long, linear; indusia rudimentary, fugacious. Spores brown, perinate.

Cytology: Hexaploid, n=108.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan.

Ecology: A rather uncommon fem, occurring on banks, walls and steep rocky

slopes, from 900-1800 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Harwan, Srinagar (Maajed 206); Shrenz, Babareshi (Maajed

132, 159); Buniyar, Baramulla (Maajed 194); Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar,

1800 m (N.C. Nair 37886, BSD).

Asplenium ramosum L., Sp. PI. 2: 1082 (1753); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian

Pterid. Fems Nepal: 52 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 275 (2000). P la te - 14 (II).

A. viride Huds., FI. Angl.: 385 (1762); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.)

1: 477 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 143 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 657 (1901); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W.

Pak. and Kashmir: 19 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1:

107 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 122 (1984).

98

Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum L. in Lellingor, Amor. Fern J. 71: 91 (WX1):

Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 332 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fern 11. W.

Himal. 1:447 (1994).

Rhizome short, erect, apex scaly; scales dark brown, lanccolate. Stipes e 15

cm long or longer, green, but with a dark brown base. thin, glabrous; rachis green,

grooved on upper surfacc. glabrous. Lamina I - pinnate, 5-15 cm long. 0.8-1 .J cm

broad, linear-lanceolate, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae many. 15-20 pairs,

0.7-1.0 cm long, alternate, shortly petiolate or sessile in the distal part, shape

variable, ovate or orbicular, base cuneate. margin crenate. lower pinnae slightly

smaller and distant; veins forked. Sori indusiate. linear, few. nearer the costa than

the margin; indusia brown, margin crenate. Spores dark brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; N. Asia; Europe; USA.

Ecology: Fairly common, occurs between 2300-4000 m altitudes: growing on large

boulders, particularly on calcarcous or metamorphic rocks, with a high calcium and

magnesium content.

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg, 3300 m {K.K. Dhir; S.P. Khullar): Gulmarg {S.P .

Khullar); Sonamarg (R.R. Stewart); Baltal to Amamath. on way (Hajra 74296,

BSD); Lidder Valley; Sheeshnag, enroute Amamath, 3300-3900 m (K.K. Dhir; R.R.

Stewart); Bamai, Gurez (Wadhwa and Pant 85074, BSD); Meenamarg; Tilel

Range, 3300 m (Clarke Acc. No. 10281, CAL); Chorwan. Gurez (Maajed 332);

Kargil to Panikhar, Ladakh (Chowdhery and Uniyal 85925, BSD).

Common Name: Green Spleenwort (English).

Asplenium ruta-muraria L., Sp. PI. 2: 1081 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.



Club 72: 416 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali. Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 18 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 110

(1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 121 (1984); Khullar, Ulus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 1:

433 (1994); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Ferns Nepal: 51 (1997);

Chandra, Fems India: 275 (2000). P la te - 15 (I).

99

Rhizome short, erect, ascending, scaly; scales dark brown, linear-lanceolate.

Stipes usually longer than lamina, 2-5 (-10) cm long, green, with blackish base,

thin, stipe-base scaly but becom ing glabrous higher up; rachis firm, green, glabrous.

Lamina 2- (-3-4) pinnate, small, 3-6 cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm broad, linear or deltate-

lanceolate, texture delicately sub-coriaceous, glabrous; pinnae few, 1-3 (-5) pairs

(besides the terminal lobed lamina apex), alternate, petiolate, lowest pair the

largest; pinnules 3-5, small, c. 0.3-0.5 cm, lateral ones obovate or rhomboid,

wedge-shaped, terminal rhomboid, base cuneate, apex obtuse, margin notched or

toothed; veins forked, obscure. Sori indusiate. short, linear; indusia margin

fimbriate, crenulate. Spores dark brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Iran; Turkey; China; W.

Nepal; Taiwan; Caucasus; Europe.

Ecology: A widespread fem , occurring mostly on limestone rocks, between 1500-

3600 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Harwan, Srinagar {Maajed 204); Lidderwatt, enroute Kolahoi

glacier, 3300 m (K.K. Dhir); Sonamarg, 2850 m (K.K. Dhir); Kishenganga Valley;

Gurez, 2200-2600 m (J.F. Duthie 115, CAL; Wadhwa 87916, BSD); Dawar, Gurez

(Maajed 282, 315 etc.); Barnai, Gurez (Maajed 304, 330); Batalik, Ladakh, 2700 m

(Maajed 452); Kangi Nallah, Ladakh, 13,500 ft (Koelz).

Common Name: Tent Wort/Wall Rue (English).

Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., Deutsch. FI. 2; 12 (1795); Clarke in Trans.

Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 478 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 145

(1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 658 (1901); Stewart in Nasir and

AH, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W. Pak. and Kashmir: 18 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W.


(1984); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 1: 435 (1994); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp.

Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 56 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 276 (2000).

P late - 1 5 (II).

Acrostichum septentrionale L., Sp. PI. 2: 1068 (1753).

100

Rhizome short creeping, ± thick, dia. c. 0.5 cm, covered with persistent stipe

bases, scaly; scales dark brown to blackish. lincar-Ianceolate. Stipes 3-8 cm long,

green, but base blackish, thin, sparsely scaly; scales blackish, lincar-Ianceolate;

rachis green, glabrous. Lamina 1- pinnate or simple in young plants. 2-5 cm long,

shorter than stipe, very narrow, elongated, linear-lanceolate, dichotomously 2 or 3-

partite into long, linear, narrow, alternate segments, or pinnate, texture firm

herbaceous or sub-coriaceous, glabrous; pinnae 2-3, 1.0-3.5 cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm

broad, alternate, petiolate, base attenuate, apex acutely 2 or 3 toothed: veins 2-3 per

lobe, forked, a veinlet to each segment. Sori indusiate, 1.0-1.5 cm long or longer,

narrow, linear, elongate, confluent at maturity, covering the entire surface; indusia

pale brown or white, entire. Spores brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Taiwan; N. Asia; Arctic

and Alpine Europe; America.

Ecology: Fairly common; occurs in rock crevices and cliffs in light forests, or more

commonly in open places, from 2100 m altitude and above.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (Maajed 98, 361; S.P. Khullar); Ferozepur Nallah,

Tangmarg (Maajed); Tangmarg (S.P. Khullar); Nagmarg; Lidderwatt, enroute

Kolahoi Glacier, 3000 m (K.K. Dhir); Sonamarg, 3000 m (Bhattacharyya 41250,

BSD; K.K. Dhir; S.P. Khullar); Thajwas Mountain, Sonamarg (Maajed 342; T.A.

Rao 9569, BSD); Banihal M ountain (T.A. Rao 9194, BSD); Kishenganga Valley;

Kanzalwan, Gurez (Maajed 270, 296, 327).

Common Name: Forked Spleenwort (English).

Asplenium trichomanes L., Sp. PI. 2: 1080 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.

London II (Bot.) 1: 477 (1880); Bedd. Handbook Fems Brit. India: 143 (1883);

Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 657 (1901); Stewart in N asir and Ali, Annot.

Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 18 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W . Himal. in Biblio.


Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 1: 269 (1992) and 2: 331 (1993); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI.

W. Himal. 1: 444 (1994); Chandra, Fems India: 278 (2000). P la te - 16 (1).

101

Rhizome short, erect, covered with persistent stipe bases, apex scaly; scalcs

dark brown, linear-lanceolate. Stipes short, 1-4 (-7) cm long, up to % the length of

lamina, dark brown to dark purple, thin, glabrous, glossy; rachis similar to stipe,

dark purple to almost black, with narrow brown marginal wings, but the wings on

abaxial side absent, glabrous, glossy. Lamina 1- pinnate, size variable, 4-15 (-25)

cm long, 0.5-2.0 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, texture herbaceous to coriaceous,

glabrous; pinnae 10-13 pairs, besides the irregularly lobed ovate lamina apex,

small, 0.3-0.4x0.2-0.3 cm (2*) or 0.7-0.8 (-1.0)*0.4-0.5 cm (4*), alternate,

petiolate or sessile, orbicular or sub-oblong, base cuneate or somewhat

asymmetrical, apex obtuse, margin finely crcnatc-serratc, basal pair distant and

reduced, those towards the lamina apex shortened; veins simple or once forked,

glabrous. Sori indusiate, 0.1-0.2 cm long, short, linear, obliquely pointing towards

pinnae apex, 3-4 cm on each side o f the costa; indusial margin entire. Spores dark

brown, perinate.

Cytology: Diploid, n=36 and Tetraploid, n=72.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; W. China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Japan;

Taiwan; Vietnam; Srilanka; S. Africa; Hurope; North and Central S. America.

Ecology. Fairly common throughout the Western Himalayas, between 1800-3000 m

altitudes, in crevices o f shaded rocks, or on banks and cliffs, occasionally epiphytic

at the base o f trees.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (.Maajed 48, 84, 122, 358 etc.); Sabal,

Baramulla (Wadhwa and Murty 84643, BSD); Ghantamula, Baramulla [Maajed);

Shrenz, Babareshi {Maajed 157); Tangmarg, 2100 m {K.K. Dhir); Ferozepur

Nallah, Tangmarg; Gulmarg, 2000-2700 m (G.A. Gammie Acc. No. 10212, CAL;

K.K. Dhir); Pahalgam, enroute Kolahoi Glacier, 2200-3300 m (K.K. Dhir); Lidder

Valley; Pohlipora, Dachigam (A.S. Rao 63581, BSD); Kokem ag (Maajed 385,

389); Verinag, 2000 m (T.A. Rao 8959, BSD); Sonamarg, 2100-3000 m

(Bhattacharyya 41252, BSD); Dawar, Gurez (Maajed 288); Kanzalwan, Gurez

(Maajed 3Q\); Ladakh.

Common Name: Maiden Hair Spleenwort (English).

102

Woodsiaceae (Diels in Engler et Prantl) Hcrtcr, Rev. Sudamer. Bot. 9: 14 (1949).

Type: Woodsia R. Br.

The family is represented by three genera (Pichi Sermolli, 1977); only one is

recorded from the study area.

Woodsia R. Br., Prod. FI. Nov. N. Holl.: 158 (1810).

Type: Woodsia ilvensis (L.) R. Br.

Seven species o f this genus are reported from India (Chandra, 2000); only

one is recorded from the area under investigation.

Woodsia alpina (Bolton) Gray in Nat. Arr. Brit. PI. London 2: 17 (1821); Stewart

in Bull. Torrcy Bot. Club 72: 404 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase.

PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 17 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio.


Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 5 (2000); Chandra, Ferns India: 214 (2000).

Acrostichum alpinum Bolton, Fil. Brit: 76, t. 42 (1790).

Woodsia hyperborea R. Br., Prod. FI. Nov. N. Holl.: 158 (1810); Bedd., Handbook

Fems Brit. India: 20 (1883); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 443

(1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 27 (1901).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly. Stipes short, 0.6-7.5 cm long, 'A the length o f

the lamina, reddish-brown to dark purple, thin, sparsely scaly, fibrillose and hairy,

scales as on the rhizome; rachis stramineous, but greenish in the upper part,

purplish in the lower portion, occasionally with a few scales, or hairy to almost

glabrous. Lamina 1- pinnate, 2.5-10.0 (-26.0) cm long, 1-2 cm broad, linear-

lanceolate or narrowly triangular-lanceolate, texture thin, chartaceous to coriaceous

when dry, a few narrow scales often present, hairy; pinnae 8-10 pairs, 0.5-1.0 cm

long, 0.3-0.8 cm broad, nearly contiguous, alternate, lower very shortly petiolate,

upper ones gradually sessile, ovate or elongated triangular-lanceolate, margin

deeply lobed to the costa, or becoming pinnate, lower pinnae gradually reduced and

distant; lobes (or pinnules) 3-5, broadly obovate, margin almost entire, apex

rounded. Sori indusiate, small, discrete, medial; indusia very small, composed o f a

few white hairs separated from each other. Spores light brown, perinate.



103

Geographical Distribution-. India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Iran; North and Central

Asia; Tibet; Northern and Central Europe; N. America.

Ecology: A fern o f high-altilude regions, growing around 2700 m and above, in

rock crevices.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg; Apharwat ( Venning 775); Sind Valley (Levinge);

Sonamarg, 3300 m (R.R. Stewart 6829): Sonsal Nallah (Inayat, J.F. Duthie 13644,

DD); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart 21796); Kainmul, Lidder Valley, 3600 m (J.F. Duthie

13148, CAL); Kolahoi Glacier, 4200 m (R.R. Stewart 9446, DD); above Fras Nag

(R.R. Stewart 23161).

Athyriaceae Alston in Taxon 5: 25 (1956).

Type: Athyrium Roth.

The family is comprised of 23 genera (Pichi Sermolli, 1993); five genera are


Key to the Genera-.

la. Stipes and rachis more or less pubescent:

2a. Fronds 2- pinnatifid to decompound; sori linear.....................................Deparia

2b. Fronds 3- pinnate to 4- pinnate; sori round........................................ Cystopteris

lb. Stipes and rachis glabrous:

3a. Base o f lamina and lower pinnae articulated to rachis........... Gymnocarpium

3b. Base o f lamina and lower pinnae not articulated to rachis:

4a. Sori crossing over the veinlets; basal stipe-scales thin, ovate-lanceolate,

usually pale brown.............................................................................. Athyrium

4b. Sori not crossing over veinlets; basal stipe-scales firm, usually very

narrow, linear-lanceolate, dark brown or b lack............................Diplazium

Athyrium Roth, Rom. Mag. 2: 105 (1799).

Type: Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth.

A temperate to sub-tropical montane genus, about 40 species are recorded

from India (Chandra, 2000); 10 species are recorded from the study area.

Key to the Species:

la. Rhizome long creeping:

2a. Lower pinnae generally much reduced and distant............... A . wallichianum

104

2b. Lower pinnae largest or of the same size as the pairs above, or only slightly

reduced..................................................................................................A. schimperii

lb. Rhizome erect, sub-erect or short creeping:

3a. Setae present on the upper adaxial surface o f the costules:

4a. Stipes stramineous; pinnules small, 0.5-1.0 cm long, 0.3-0.4 cm broad,

elliptic or oblong, margin shallowly lobed, with few short teeth towards

the rounded apex............................................................................A. setiferum

4b. Stipes generally pink or purplish; pinnules long, 1 -2 cm long, 0.6-0.7 cm

broad, lanceolate, margin lobed halfway to the costa, lobes narrow,

sharply serrate-dentate............................................................. A . strigillosum

3b. Setae absent on the upper adaxial surface o f the costules:

5a. Lamina 3 or 4- pinnate................................................................ A . atkinsonii

5b. Lamina 1 or 2- pinnate:

6a. Lowermost pair o f pinnae not reduced.................A. mackinnoniorum

6b. Lowermost pair o f pinnae reduced:

7a. Lamina 2 or 3- pinnate, thinly herbaceous......................A . distans

7b. Lamina generally 1 or 2- pinnate:

8a. Lower few pairs o f pinnae gradually much shortened and

reduced to auricles, pinna tips curved upwards.....A . rupicola

8b. Lower few pairs o f pinnae only slightly smaller than the rest,

pinna tips not curved upwards:

9a. Lower pinnae much attenuated....................A . attenuatum

9b. Lower few pinnae shortened, never attenuated....................

.............................................................................. A . rubricaule

Athyrium atkinsonii Bedd., Suppl. Fems Southern India and Brit. India: 11, t. 35


(1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica X: 89 (1980); Dixit, Cens.

Indian Pterid.: 125 (1984); Fras.-Jenk., Rev. W. Himal. Athyrium-. 63 (1997);

Chandra, Fems India: 122 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 27 (2000).

P la te - 1 6 (II)-

Asplenium atkinsonii (Bedd.) Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 487

(1880).

105

Pseudocystopteris atkinsonii (Bedd.) Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 9: 78 (1964).

Rhizome thin, creeping, without persistent leaf bases; fronds arising singly

from the rhizome at distant intervals. Stipes 15-40 cm long, stramineous or brown,

thick, dia. 0.4 cm, sparsely scaly, higher up scales very sparse; rachis not grooved

when dry, very sparsely scaly or glabrous. Lamina 3 (-4)- pinnate, large, 30*40 cm

long, 25-30 cm broad at base, deltate or ± triangular-lanceolatc, texture herbaceous,

upper surface glabrous; pinnae 7-10 pairs, 12-15 cm long, 5-7 cm broad, distant,

alternate, distinctly petiolate, triangular-lanceolate, lowest pair generally the largest;

pinnules 10 pairs, 2.0-3.5 cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad, alternate, petiolate, deltate,

not slopping, symmetrical, lowest or the next pair the largest; ultimate lobes 5-10

pairs, 0.5-1.0 cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm broad, alternate, petiolate in the lower part o f

pinnule, sessile (higher up on pinnule), resulting in a winged costule, apex rounded,

with a few short teeth, margin lobed V2 to 2A to the main vein into more or less

crcnate segments. Sori indusiate, close to the main vein o f the pinnulet, one on each

lobe; indusia brown, straight or J-shaped or hippocrepiform, thin, curling back at

maturity, generally caduceus, margin sparsely fimbriate, with few short projections.

Spores brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution-. India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Taiwan; Japan.

Ecology. Fairly common at high altitudes, between 2400-3000 m, in forests.

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg, above Gulmarg, 8,500-10,000 ft (R.R. Stewart,

10484 teste Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar; Aitchison 125, K; Maajed 403; S.P.

Khullar); Sonamarg (R.R. Stewart 6402 teste Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar); Fras

Nag, Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart, 23116 teste Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar);

Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart teste Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar); K ishenganga Valley,

8,000-11,000 ft (R.R. Stewart teste Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar).

Hope (1902) treated this species under A. jimbriatum (which he called A.

foliolosum); Bir (1963 etc.), Stewart (1972), Dhir (1980) etc. all followed Hope

(Khullar, 2000).

Athyrium attenuatum (Wall, ex Clarke) Tag. in Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 16: 177


106

(1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 82 (1980): Dixit, Cens.

Indian Pterid.: 125 (1984); Nakaike and Malik. Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 333 (1993);

Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 57 (1997) and Rev. W.

Himal. Athyrium-. 56 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 123 (2000); Khullar. Illus. Fem

FI. W. Himal. 2: 30 (2000). Plate - 17 (I).

Asplenium filix-femina Bemh. var. attenuate Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1:492 (1880).

Polypodium dentigerum Wall., Numer. List No. 334 (1828), nom. nud.

Asplenium filix-femina (L.) Bernh.var. dentigera Wall, ex Clarke in Trans. Linn.

Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 491 (1880).

Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth var. attenuata (Clarke) Bedd., Handbook Fems

Brit. India: 169 (1883).

A. filix-femina (L.) Roth forma dentigera (Wall, ex Clarke) Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 14: 125 (1902).

A. dentigerum (Wall, ex Clarke) Mehra et Bir in Amer. Fem J. 50: 279 (1960);

Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 9 (1972).

A. filix-femina (L.) Roth var. intermedia M ehra et Khullar in Res. Bull. Panjab

Univ. 25(3-4): 156 (1974), nom nud.

A. filix-femina (L.) Roth var. intermedia Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 84 (1980), nom nud.

A. attenuatum (Wall, ex Clarke) Tag. forma intermedium M ehra et Khullar ex Fras.-

Jenk. et Khullar in Asp. PI. Sci. 6: 99-102 (1982).

A. attenuatum (Wall, ex Clarke) forma dentigerum (Wall, ex Clarke) Fras.-Jenk. et

Khullar in Asp. PI. Sci. 6: 102 (1982).

Rhizome short, erect to sub-erect, scaly, covered with persistent leaf bases.

Stipes short, 5-10 cm long, light brown or stramineous, scaly, base w ithout a tuft o f

large scales, but otherwise densely scaly, higher up stipe sparsely scaly, becoming

glabrous, slightly muricated due to the fallen bases o f scales; rachis brown or

stramineous, succulent, appearing grooved when dry, very sparsely scaly, scales

few, scattered. Lamina 2- pinnate, c. 40 cm long, 10-15 cm broad (in the middle

region), broadly lanceolate, much tapering at both the ends, texture herbaceous,

upper surface glabrous; pinnae c. 20 pairs, c. 70 cm long, 1.5 cm broad (largest

107

pinna), alternate, shortly petiolate, lower pinnae not much reduced, or gradually

distant and reduced, sometimes to mere auricles, higher up on the rachis pinnae

congested, lanceolate; pinnules c. 20 pairs, 0.7 cm long, 0.3 cm broad (largest

pinnule), alternate, sessile, inserted at right angles to the pinnae-costa, oblong,

symmetrical, margin serrate. Sori indusiate, small, in a single row on either side o f

the costule, almost entirely occupying the lower surface; indusia light brown, rarely

hippocrepiform, generally J-shaped or straight, persistent. Spores yellowish-brown,

non-perinate; exine smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; S.W. China; Nepal.

Ecology: Fairy common, above 3000 m altitude, in forests.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam (Clarke 31076B; T.A. Rao 660, BSD; K.K. Dhir);

Kolahoi (R.R. Stewart 8276); Gulmarg (Maajed 62, 82, 354; T.A. Rao 255, BSD;

S.P. Khullar 111, PAN; K.K. Dhir)\ Lidder Valley, 3300-4000 m (J.F. Duthie

13182, CAL; 13436, DD); Fras Nag (R.R. Stewart 23106, K); Dagwan (Wadhwa

66983, BSD); Pir Panjal, 2200 m (G.A. Gammie s.n., Acc. No. 11340, CAL teste

Fraser-Jenkins); M arbal Pass (Clarke 31275C); Izmarg, Gurez (Maajed 214, 241,

242b)\ Gurez, 2300-2800 m (J.F. Duthie 12605, DD teste Fraser-Jenkins).

This species has often been split into varieties and distinct species in the

Indian fem literature. Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar (1982) clarified the position and

recognised only a single species, i.e. A. attenuatum, with three forms (attenuata,

intermedia and dentigera), since these only represent growth/environmental/

developmental stages, forming a perfectly continuous range within A. attenuatum.

All these forms are now recognised as growth stages and sunk into A. attenuatum.

Athyrium distans (D. Don) T. Moore, Index Fil.: 125 (1859); Khullar, Illus. Fem

FI. W. Himal. 2: 39 (2000).

Asplenium distans D. Don, Prodr. FI. Nepal: 9 (1825), non Fee (1852), nec Brack

(1854).

Athyrium imbricatum Christ in Bull. Acad. Int. Geogr. Bot. Mans. 16: 123 (1906).

A. sikkimense Ching in Acta Bot. Austro-Sinica 1: 19 (1983), non (Bir) A. et D.

Love (1977); Chandra, Fems India: 135 (2000).

108

Rhizome crect, thick. Stipes very long, thin, stramineous, scaly; rachis

stramineous. Lamina 2-3- pinnate, ovate-lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, widest

just above the base, thinly herbaceous, delicate, proliferous buds absent; pinnae

many pairs, long, narrowly triangular-lanccolate, margin pinnate-pinnatifid, apices

long, narrow, caudate, lowest pinnae slightly shorter than the next pair above;

pinnules petiolate, triangular-lanceolate, ± falcate, asymmetrical about their axes,

acroscopic basal lobes markedly longer than the more sloping and decurrent

basiscopic ones, apices acute, margin deeply pinnatifidly lobed into narrow, ± well

separated lobes, with the apices o f these lobes bearing ± short, ± insignificant acute

teeth. Sori indusiate, straight, very short, close to the costules; indusia small, soon

shrivelling.



Geographical Distribution: India; S.W. China; Nepal; Japan.

Ecology: Occasional, found between 1500-2500 m altitudes, in forests or stream-

banks.

Local Distribution: Sind Valley (Levinge, E del. Fraser-Jenkins); s. loc.

(Winterbottom, BM det. Fraser-Jenkins).

Athyrium mackinnoniorum [mackinnonii] (Hope) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 143

(1905); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 414 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali,

Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 9 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in

Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 87 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 127 (1984); Fras.-

Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 58 (1997) and Rev. W. Himal.

Athyrium: 30 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 129 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 2: 56 (2000). P la te - 17 (II).

Asplenium mackinnoniorum [mackinnonii] Hope in J. Bot. 34: 124, t. 23 (1896) and

in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 112 (1903).

Rhizome short, erect or sub-erect, thick, scaly, covered with persistent leaf

bases. Stipes 20-40 cm long, stramineous or pinkish, thick, dia. 0.2-0.4 cm, base

densely scaly, higher up stipe sparsely scaly, becoming glabrous; rachis

stramineous, not grooved when dry, glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate, very large, 30-60

cm long, 20-45 cm broad, spreading, deltate or widely deltate, but lanceolate when

109

young, texture stiffly herbaceous, both surfaces glabrous; pinnae 12-20 pairs. 10-20

cm long, 3-5 cm broad (largest pinnae), distant, alternate, shortly petiolate,

lanceolate, lowest pair usually the largest or almost equal in size to the 2-3 pairs

above, often narrowing to their bases; pinnules 10-20 pairs, 1.5-3.0 cm long, 0.7-1.0

cm broad (largest pinnule), slopping, asymmetrical, alternate, sessile, lanceolate,

base decurrent, apex acute, slightly auricled on the acroscopic side, margin lobed

about halfway to the costa (or serrate in pinnules higher up on lamina) into 6-12

lobes, with 2 or more teeth on each lobe, the basal 2-3 pairs o f pinnules smaller

than the rest in the pinna, pinnules asymmetrical, basiscopic pinnules in the lower 1

or 2 pairs o f pinnae slightly larger than the acroscopic ones, setae confined to pinna

apices but not above pinnules. Sori indusiate, mostly on the superior veinlet o f each

lobe, 6-8 pairs in a single row on cither side o f the costa, sub-medial, usually large;

indusia light brown, hippocrepiform or J-shaped or straight, large, thin, curling back

at maturity, margin slightly fimbriate. Spores light brown, non-perinate; exine

nearly smooth or with very small spinules.




Ecology: Common, between 2200-3000 m altitudes, in shady moist, humus rich

places.

local Distribution: Apharwat (.Maajed 402); Gulmarg (.Maajed 99, 105 etc.; E.W.

Trotter 117, CAL; A.S. Rao 63686, BSD: J.F. Duthie 21060, CAL); Tangmarg,

2100 m (K.K. Dhir); Shrenz, Babareshi (.Maajed 134, 137, 144 etc.); Sind Valley

(R.R. Stewart); Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart); Pahalgam, 2200 m (K K . Dhir);

enroute Kolahoi and Amamath, 2100-3000 m (K.K. Dhir); Kanzalwan, Gurez

(M aajed2\9); Kishenganga Valley (M aajed339; R.R. Stewart).

This fem was treated in earlier literature under the name Athyrium

mackinnonii. Since Hope named this fem after the Mackinnon brothers (more than

one) o f Mussoorie, therefore the termination o f the epithet must automatically be

corrected to 1 mackinnomorum' (plural) rather than 1mackinnoni/’ (singular) in

keeping with the Code as proposed by Fraser-Jenkins (1997a).

1)0

Athyrium rubricaule (Edgew. ex Clarke) Bir in Nova Hedw. 4: 169 (1962); Dixit,

Cens. Indian Pterid.: 128 (1984); Chandra, Ferns India: 133 (2000); Khullar, Illus.

Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 67 (2000). Plate - 18 (I).

Asplenium filix-fem ina Bemh. var. retusa (Decne.) Bir subvar. rubricaule Edgew.

ex Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 493 (1880).

Athyrium filix-fem ina (L.) Roth var. retusa subvar. [var.] rubricaule (Edgew. ex

Clarke) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India Suppl.: 35 (1892).

Rhizome short, sub-erect or erect, thick, scaly, covered with persistent leaf

bases. Stipes very long, 30-40 cm long, stramineous or light brown, base scaly,

often muricated due to bases o f fallen scales, higher up stipe sparsely scaly,

becoming glabrous; rachis not grooved when dry, glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate, 25-

40 cm long, 10-35 cm broad, widest just above the base, ovate-lanceolate, texture

herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 10-12 pairs, 7-15 cm long, 2-5 cm broad, distant,

higher up on the rachis close together, narrowly triangular-lanceolate, alternate or

sub-opposite, very shortly petiolate, lower 2-3 pairs gradually shortened but never

attenuated; pinnules c. 10 pairs or more, 1-2 cm long, 0.4-0.7 cm broad, basal ones

opposite, rest alternate, sessile, margin crenate, or shallowly or deeply lobed Vi to V*

to the costa, symmetrical, or basal acroscopic pinnule the largest, lower opposite

pair o f pinnules on each pinna very close to, or overlapping the rachis, most

pinnules joined at their base by a narrow laminar wing. Sori indusiate, often on the

acroscopic side o f the veinlet o f each lobe, in a single row on either side o f the

costule, medial; indusia light brown, hippocrepiform or J-shaped or quite straight,

thin, curling back at maturity. Spores yellowish-brown, non-perinate; exine smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: Occasional, growing between 2000-2800 m altitudes, under shady forest

slopes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (S.P. Khullar 30, K det. Fraser-Jenkins; s.n., PAN;

Maajed 96, 97); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart 21568, K det. Fraser-Jenkins; 8007 teste

Fraser-Jenkins); Fras Nag, Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart 23195a teste Fraser-

Jenkins); Sekiwas, Upper Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart 12475 teste Fraser-Jenkins);

Zur-Nar, Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart teste Fraser-Jenkins); Sarpat, N orth K ashm ir

Valley (J.C. McDonell 30, K del. Fraser-Jenkins); G urez (Maajed 259. 260).

Athyrium rupicola (Edgew. ex Hope) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 145 (1905); S tew art in

Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 414 (1945), and in N asir and A li, A nnot. Cat. Vase. PI.

W. Pak. and Kashmir: 10 (1972); Dhir, Fem s N .W . H im al. in B iblio. Pteridologica

1: 82 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 129 (1984); N akaike and M alik, Crypt. FI.

Pakistan 2: 333 (1993); Fras.-Jenk., Rev. W. H imal. Athyrium : 62 (1997); Chandra,

Fems India: 133 (2000); K hullar, Illus. F em FI. W. H im al. 2: 69 (2000).

Asplenium rupicola Edgew. ex Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 531 (1899).

A. filix-femina Bernh. var. retusa subvar. elongata Clarke ex Blanf. in J. Asiat. Soc.

Bengal 57: 306(1888).

Athyrium mehrae Bir in Nova I ledw. 4: 165 (1962).

Rhizome short, sub-erect or erect, thick, apex scaly. Stipes 3-12 cm long,

generally shorter than the lamina, stramineous, thin, scaly, base densely scaly,

higher up stipe almost glabrous; rachis stramineous, not grooved when dry, sparsely

scaly and fibrillose, scales as on stipe, fibrils light brown. Lamina 1- pinnate, 11-45

cm long, narrow, 2.5-6.0 cm broad, ± linear-lanceolate, texture herbaceous,

glabrous; pinnae c. 25 pairs, 1.5-5.0 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm broad (largest pinnae),

alternate, sessile, dccurrent on rachis, horizontal or slightly ascending (in the distal

part o f lamina), lanceolatc, apex acuminate, slightly curved upwards, margin deeply

lobed to the costa; lobes 7-10 pairs, small, 0.3-0.5 cm long, 0.2 cm broad, apex

acutc, margin faintly serrate, lowest acroscopic lobe usually the largest, lower 3-4

pairs o f pinnae gradually much reduced, sometimes to mere auricles, downwards

deflexed. Sori indusiate, large, occupying almost the entire lower portion o f the

lobe, 3-4 pairs on either side o f the costule; indusia light brown, straight or J-

shaped, rarely hippocrepiform, persistent, curling back at maturity, margin

fimbriate. Spores dark brown, perinate.

Cytology'. Diploid sexual, n=40.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: Occasional, from 2400-3500 m altitude, in the alpine and sub-alpine

regions.

112

Local Distribution: Sheeshnag, 3000-3700 m; Pir Panjal, 7,000-10,000 ft (Levinge

27104).

Athyrium schimperii Moug. ex Fee, Mem. Fam. Foug. 5 Gen. Fil.: 186 (1852);

Bedd., Handbook Ferns Brit. India Suppl.: 36 (1892); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.



Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 129 (1984); Chandra, Fems India: 134 (2000); Khullar,

Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 73 (2000).

Asplenium schimperii (Moug. ex Fee) A. Br., Schweinf. Beitr. 1: 224 (1867), non

(Hook.) J. Sm. (1875); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 252 (1902).

A. filix-femina Bemh. var. polyspora Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.)

1:493(1880).

Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth var. polysporum (Clarke) Bedd., Handbook Fems

Brit. India: 170(1883).

Rhizome long creeping, thick, dia. 0.4-0.5 cm, scaly. Stipes 1.0-1.5 cm

distant on rhizome, 10-46 cm long, pale or stramineous, invariably with a dark

purplish to brown base, thick, densely scaly at base, higher up stipe sparsely scaly,

becoming glabrous, glossy; rachis stramineous, round when dry, sparsely fibrillose,

higher up rachis almost glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate, 30-60 cm long, 6-27 cm

broad, ± lanceolate or deltate-lanceolate, texture firm, herbaceous, upper surface

glabrous; pinnae c. 20 pairs, 9-10 (-15 cm) long, 2-4 cm broad (largest middle

pinnae), alternate, shortly petiolate, lanceolate, lower 1-2 pairs generally slightly

reduced and distant; pinnules 10-15 pairs, 1-3 cm long, 0.5-0.8 cm broad (variable),

alternate, sessile, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, symmetrical, margin variable,

shallowly to deeply lobed; lobes sharply crenate or inciso-dentate, basal pair o f

pinnules generally the largest. Sori indusiate, large, 2-6 pairs in each lobe o f

pinnule; indusia light brown, yellow, large, straight, J-shaped or few

hippocrepiform, persistent, margin fimbriate. Spores dark brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Yunnan; Nepal; Burma;

Africa etc.

113

Ecology: A rather rare fem in the area, found between 1800-3000 m altitudes, in

damp shady places.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (Marten).

Athyrium setiferum C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 146 (1905); Stewart in Nasir and Ali,

Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 10 (1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.:

129 (1984); Fras.-Jenk., Rev. W . Himal. Athyrium: 45 (1997); Khullar, Illus. Fem

FI. W. Himal. 2: 76 (2000); Chandra, Fems India: 135 (2000).

A. tenuifrons Wall, ex T. Moore var. tencllum Wall, apud T. Moore ex R. Sim,

Priced Cat. Fems 6: 22 (1859).

A. nigripes var. dissecta sensu Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 491

(1880).

A. nigripes sensu Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 166 (1883), pro parte.

Asplenium tenellum (Wall, apud T. Moore ex R. Sim) Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 12: 529 (1899), non Roxb. (1816), nec Fee (1852).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, scaly. Stipes 15-25 cm long or longer, fragile,

thin, stramineous, base blackish, sparsely scaly; scales light mid-brown,

concolorous, linear-lanceolate or ovate, higher up stipe almost glabrous; rachis

stramineous, grooved when dry, very scantily fibrillose. Lamina 2- pinnate, 10-20 (-

30) cm long, narrow, 4-7 cm broad, lanceolate, widest just below the middle,

texture thinly herbaceous, lower surface glabrous; pinnae c. 10 pairs, short, 2.5-4.0

cm long, 1.0-1.5 cm broad, alternate, petiolate, narrowly triangular-lanceolate,

auriculate, lowest one or two pairs shorter than the next; pinnules 5-10 pairs, small,

up to 0.5-1.0 cm long, 0.3-0.4 cm broad, alternate, basal pinnules petiolate, rest

sessile, elliptic or oblong-rhombic, symmetrical, asymmetrical about their axes,

base cuneate, apex rounded, with a few short teeth, margin shallowly lobed halfway

to the costa, posterior margin decurrent on rachis, basal acroscopic pinnule often

largest and more lobed; veins 3-5 pairs; costae and costules with scattered, long,

weak setae on upper surface. Sori indusiate, small, in a single row on either side o f

the costule, very close to the costa; indusia brown, mostly straight or J-shaped, thin,

persistent, margin entire or slightly erose. Spores pale brown, non-pcrinate; exine

smooth.



Geographical Distribution: India; China; Nepal; Srilanka; Taiwan; Thailand.

Ecology: A rather rare species in the area, between 2700-3000 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg.

Athyrium strigiUosum (T. Moore ex E.J. Lowe) T. Moore ex Salom., Nomenc.

Gefasskrypt: 1 12 (1883); Dixit, Ccns. Indian Pterid.: 129 (1984); Fras.-Jenk., Rev.

W. Himal. Athyrium: 40 (1997); Chandra, Fems India: 137 (2000); Khullar, Illus.

Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 77 (2000). P la te - 18 (II).

Asplenium strigiUosum T. Moore ex E.J. Lowe, Fems Brit. Exot. 5: 107, t. 36

(1858).

A. tenuifrons Wall. Numer. List No. 206 (1828), pro parte, nom. nud

Athyrium tenuifrons Wall, ex T. Moore, Index Fil.: 43 (1857), nom. nud.; Wall.

apud T. Moore ex R. Sim, Priced Cat. Fems 6: 17 (1859).

Asplenium tenuifrons (Wall, apud T. Moore ex R. Sim) Blanf. in J. Asiatic Soc.

Bengal 57: 306(1888).

Athyrium nigripes (Bl.) T. Moore var. tenuifrons (Wall, apud T. Moore ex R. Sim)

Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India Suppl.: 33 (1892).

Rhizome short, sub-erect or erect, thick, scaly, sometimes projecting out o f

the frond, apex (which is above ground) scaly. Fronds often with smaller

proliferous vegetative buds in the axes o f the upper pinnae. Stipes 20 cm long,

stramineous, pink or purplish, thick, sparsely scaly; rachis stramineous or pinkish,

predominantly grooved on upper side, almost glabrous. Lamina 2- pinnate, 30-40

cm long, 10-15 cm broad, lanceolate to narrowly triangular-lanceolate, texture thin,

herbaceous, bright green, lower surface glabrous; pinnae c. 20 pairs or more, 5-7

cm long, 2-3 cm broad, sub-opposite, becoming alternate higher up, petiolate,

triangular-lanceolate, lower hardly reduced and distant; pinnules c. 10 pairs, 10-20

cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm broad, alternate, sessile, obliquely inserted, lanceolate,

symmetrical, base cuneate, apex acute or round, margin generally lobed about

halfway to the costa into narrow lobes, sharply serrate-dentate, the acroscopic basal

pinnule generally the largest; costae and costules coloured like the stipe, grooved,

bearing prominent setae on the upper surface. Sori indusiate, short, sub-medial,

nearer the costa, 3-5 pairs in a single row on either side o f the costule; indusia

I 14

brown, straight or J-shaped, rarely hippocrepiform, caducous, margin erose. Spores

light brown, non-perinate; exine with small scattered spinules.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Nepal.

Ecology: Occasional, growing in wet places or on the banks and beds o f well-

shaded ravines, around 2000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Kanzalwan, Gurez (Maajed 235).

Athyrium wallichianum Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 8: 497 (1938);


Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 92 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian

Pterid.: 130 (1984); Fras.-Jenk., Rev. W. Himal. Athyrium: 61 (1997); Chandra,

Fems India: 139 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 82 (2000).

Aspidium brunonianum Wall, ex Mett., Abhandl. Senckenb. Naturf. Ges. 2: 127

(1858), non Athyrium brunonianum Milde (1870).

Nephrodium brunonianum (Wall, ex Mett.) Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 113 (1862).

Lastrea brunoniana (Wall, ex Mett.) Bedd., Fems Brit. India: 37 (1865).

Dryopteris brunoniana (W all, ex Mett.) O. Ktze., Rev. Gen. PI. 2: 81 (1891);

Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 407 (1945).

Rhizome long creeping, black, thick, dia. 0.5 cm, apex densely scaly and

covered with stipe bases. Stipes short, 3-5 cm long, scaly and fibrillose, base

densely scaly, higher up stipe sparsely scaly; rachis dark brown, grooved when dry,

scaly and fibrillose. Lamina 1- pinnate (rarely 2- pinnate), small, 10-20 (-30) cm

long, 5-10 cm broad, narrowly triangular-lanceolate or lanceolate, abruptly

narrowed at apex, texture thickly herbaceous, upper surface glabrous; pinnae 20-27

pairs, 2.5-3.0 cm long, 0.5-1.0 cm broad, crowded, alternate, sessile, lanceolate,

margin deeply lobed almost to the costa or becoming 2- pinnate; lobes (or pinnules)

5-8 pairs, small, 0.4-0.5 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm broad, apex round, margin serrate,

with two or more long mucronate teeth, double serrate with short dentate

projections around the pinnule apex, lower pinnae sometimes gradually reduced and

slightly distant, lowest almost ha lf the size o f the largest middle pinnae, pinnae at

the apex o f lamina narrowing abruptly. Sori exindusiate, small, round, occasionally

116

marginal or near the sinus, generally upon the superior veinlet. Spores dark brown,

non-perinate; exine vcrrucose.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; S.W. China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: Common in masses, between 3200-4000 m altitudes, on alpine meadows.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg, 3300-3700 m (.//•’ Duthie 11278, DD); Khillanmarg,

3300-3600 m (Maajed 80; K.K. Dhir; R.R. Stewart); Mt. Kolahoi (R.R. Stewart);

enroute Kolahoi and Amamath, 3000-3900 m (K.K. Dhir); above Lidderwatt, 4000

m (J.F. Duthie 13563, CAL); Pahalgam, 3500 m (Clarke 31054, CAL); Gangabal

Lakes (R.R. Stewart); Gurez, Rajdhan Alpine Meadows (Wadhwa 83823, BSD).

Doubtful/Excluded Tax a:

Athyrium dentigerum (Wall, ex Clarke) Mehra et Bir: This fem was reported by

Stewart (1972) and subsequent workers, but now it is sunk under A. attenuatum.

Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth: Reported by Dhir (1980) from Gulmarg, 2700 m

and Pahalgam, 2400 m. Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar (1982) clarified the position and

recognised only a single species, viz. A. attenuatum (closely related to A. filix-

femina). True A. filix-femina is a European species extending to N. Asia, but has not

been recorded in the Himalaya. The plants identified under A. filix-femina from

Kashmir belong to A. attenuatum.

Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth var. retusa (Decne.) Clarke: This fem was

reported by Stewart (1972) in error for A. rubricaule from Kashmir.

Athyrium fimbriatum T. Moore: This fem has often been reported in error for A.

atkinsonii from Kashmir (e.g. Stewart, 1972; Dhir, 1980 etc.). Despite several

reports, A. fimbriatum , in its true sense has not so far been collected from Kashmir

(Khullar, 2000).

Athyrium foliolosum Wall, ex Sim: Reported by Khullar and Sharma (1987), and

Singh and Pande (2002) in error for A. atkinsonii from Kashmir Valley.

Athyrium nigripes (Bl.) T. Moore: This species has often been reported in error for

A. setiferum from Kashmir, viz. Dhir, 1980 etc. A. nigripes in its true sense is

confined to S.E. Asia (Khullar, 2000).

117

Cystopteris Bemh. in Schrad. Neu. J. Bot. 1(2): 26 (1805), nom. cons.

Type: Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bemh.

The genus comprises 18 species (Christensen. 1938): two species and a

hybrid are recorded from the area o f study.

Key to the Species, Sub-species and Hybrids'.

la . Indusia cup-shaped with free margin, relatively entire; rhizome thin, with long

intemodes......................................................................................................... C. montana

lb . Indusia large, conspicuous with free margin, frequently lacerate; rhizome short,

with approximate nodes:

2a. Spores regular, viable and light coloured, echinate or rugose-verrucose:

3a. Spores echinate......................................................................................C. fragilis

3b. Spores rugose-verrucose....................................C. fragilis subsp. dickieana

2b. Spores abortive and dark coloured, non spiny.........................................................

.....................................................................C. fragilis nothosubsp . * montserratii

Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bemh. in Schrad. Neu. J. Bot. 1(2): 26, t. 2 (1805); Clarke

in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 450 (1880); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit.

India Suppl.: 15 (1892); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 35 (1900); Stewart

in Bull. Torrcy Bot. Club 72: 404 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase.


Pteridologica 1: 80 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 130 (1984); Chandra, Fems

India: 139 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 94 (2000). P late - 19 (I).

Polypodium fragilis L., Sp. PL 2: 1091 (1753).

Rhizome short creeping, thin, covered with persistent leaf bases, scaly.

Stipes 4-15 cm long, stramineous or light brown, thin, fragile, scaly at base, higher

up on stipe scales very sparse, or stipe glabrous; rachis stramineous or light brown;

sparsely hairy. Lamina 2- pinnate, 10-20 (-30) cm long, 4-6 (-12) cm broad,

lanceolate, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 8-15 pairs, 2-5 cm long, 1-2 cm

broad, alternate, shortly petiolate, distant or overlapping, triangular-lanceolate,

lowest pair slightly shorter than the pair above; pinnules 4-7 pairs, 0.5-1.0 cm long,

0.3-0.7 cm broad, lower pinnules shortly petiolate, upper ones sessile, lanceolate or

ovate or ovate-rhomboid, symmetrical, basal pinnule generally the largest and more

lobed than the others, apex round or acute, margin crenate or variously lobed; lobes

118

with short teeth-like projections, acroscopic lobes usually longer than the more

vertically sloping basiscopic ones. Sori indusiate, round, medial, 2-4 pairs on each

side of the main vein o f the pinnule, confluent at maturity; indusia pale yellow,

ovate or lanceolate, thin, caducous, apex lacerate, hairy. Spores dark brown, non-

perinate; exine echinate.

Cytology>: Tetraploid, 2n=84 and Hexaploid, 2n=126.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Iran; N. China; Tibet; Nepal; Japan;

Korea; Asia Minor; Africa; Hurope; West Indies; Siberia; America.

Ecology. Common, growing on open rocky hill-slopes, sub-alpine to alpine regions,

from 2000-4500 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 47, 100, 101, 360 etc.)', Shrenz,

Babareshi (Maajed 149, 160, 162, 168); Gulmarg, 2700 m (Maajed 355, 356; K.K.

Dhir); Kolahoi and Amamath, 3000-3900 m (K.K. Dhir); towards Pahalgam;

Lidder River, near Lidderwatt, 3150 m; Jasker-Dagwan (Wadhwa 66903, BSD);

Tilel, 4000 m (J.F. Duthie 13913, CAL); Bamai, Gurez (Wadhwa and Pant 85069,

BSD); Gurez (M aajed2\5, 247, 295, 328 etc.); Ladakh, enroute Khardong La (D.K.

Singh and party 101090, BSD); Thanglang La, 4500 m (Bhattacharyya 41027,

BSD); Ganglas (Chowdhery and Uniyal 86059, BSD).

Common Name: Fragile Fern/Brittle Fern/Bladder Fern (English).

Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bemh. nothosubsp. * montserratii (Prado et Salvo) Fras.-

Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 100 (1997); Khullar, Illus. Fem

FI. W. Himal. 2: 102 (2000).

(=C. fragilis * C. jragilis subsp. dickieana).

C. * montserratii Prado et Salvo in Anal. Jard. Bot. Madrid 41(2): 466 (1985)

[1984].

The plants o f this hybrid are morphologically identical to the parents, i.e. C.

jragilis and C. fragilis subsp. dickieana, except that the spores are fully abortive,

dark and non-spiny (Khullar, 1983, 2000).

Geographical Distribution: Western Himalaya.

Ecology: Common, growing in similar locations as the parents, between 2000-2700

m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Gulm arg (S.P. Khullar 8374, PAN); K ishenganga Valley

(Maajed 312, 324).

Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. subsp . dickieana (R. Sim) Hyland.. Uppsala Univ.

Arsskr. 1945(7): 59 (1945); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fem s Nepal:

98 (1997); Chandra, Fem s India: 140 (2000). P la te - 19 (II).

C. dickieana R. Sim in Gard. Farm. J. Ser. 2: 308 (1848): Stewart in N asir and Ali.

Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 10 (1972): Dhir. Fem s N.W . Himal. in

Biblio. Pteridologica 1:81 (1980): Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 92 (2000).

C. fragilis (L.) Bemh. var. dickieana (R. Sim) T. Moore. Handbook Brit. F em s/led:

81 (1848).

Rhizome short creeping, thin, covered with persistent leaf bases, scaly.

Stipes 4-15 cm long, generally shorter than lamina, stram ineous or light brown,

thin, fragile, scaly at base, higher up on stipe scales very sparse, or stipe glabrous;

rachis stramineous or light brown, sparsely hairy. Lamina 2- pinnate, 10-20 (-30)

cm long, 4-6 (-12) cm broad, lanceolate, texture herbaceous, glabrous; pinnae 8-15

pairs, 2-5 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, alternate, shortly petiolate, distant or overlapping,

lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, lowest pair slightly shorter than the pair above;

pinnules 4-7 pairs, 0.5-1.0 cm long, 0.3-0.7 cm broad, lower pinnules shortly

petiolate, upper ones sessile, obliquely inserted, lanceolate or ovate or ovate-

rhomboid, symmetrical, basal pinnules generally the largest and more lobed than

the others, apex obtuse or acute, margin crenatc, variously lobed; lobes vary from

wide and obtuse to narrow and acute, mostly ± obtuse, with short toothed

projections or with only a few crenations; veins c. 5 pairs in a pinnule, in groups o f

2-4 per pinnule-lobe. Sori indusiate, round, medial, 2-4 pairs on each side o f the

main vein o f the pinnule, confluent at maturity; indusia pale yellow, ± ovate or

lanceolate, thin, caducous, apex lacerate, hairy. Spores dark brown, non-perinate;

exine verrucose.

Cytology: Hexaploid sexual, 2n=126.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Nepal; Taiwan;

Europe; N. America.

I 19

120

Ecology: Frequently growing on rocky slopes or crevices, in sub-alpine to alpine

regions, from 2300-4000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 110, 111); Shrenz, Babareshi

(Maajed 151, 156, 166); Nambalnar, Babareshi {Maajed 46); Gulmarg, 3000-3600

m (K.K. Dhir; Maajed 357); Aherbal (T.A. Rao 9246, BSD); Aru, Pahalgam

(Maajed 372, 373); Kolahoi; Pahalgam; Amamath; Lidderwatt Hilltop, 3700 m

(T.A. Rao 6914, BSD); Baltal and Baltal-Matayan, 4,000-16,000 ft (Youngh );

Gurez (Maajed 220, 232, 276, 316 etc.)', Ladakh, Khardong La (Hajra 74190,

BSD); Leh to Khalotse; Ladakh (Maajed 427-449); Hemis National Park

(Srivastava and Chauhan 100999, BSD); Kargil-Suru Road (Vishwanathan 55657,

BSD); Dras-Kargil Road ( Wadhwa 58750, BSD).

Common Name: Dickie’s Fern (English).

Cystopteris montana (Lam.) Desv. in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris 6: 264 (1827); Bedd.,

Handbook Ferns Brit. India Suppl.: 15 (1892); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club

72: 404 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir:

11 (1972); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 36 (1900); Dhir, Ferns N.W.

Himal, in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 81 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 131

(1984); Chandra, Ferns India: 140 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 98

(2000).

Polypodium montanum Lam., FI. Franc. 1: 23 (1778).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly. Stipes 2 cm distant on rhizome, 25-30

cm long or longer than the lamina, brown or stramineous with brown base, scaly at

base; rachis stramineous, glabrous. Lamina 3-4- pinnate, finely dissected, 9-15 cm

long, 5-14 cm broad, deltate or deltate-lanceolate, texture herbaceous, glabrous;

pinnae 5-7 pairs, 5-10 cm long, 3.5-6.0 cm broad (largest), alternate, petiolate,

deltate or ± triangular-lanceolate, lowest pinnae the largest; pinnules 5-7 pairs, 2-4

cm long, 1.0-2.5 cm broad, alternate, shortly petiolate, distal ones sessile, ±

triangular-lanceolate, asymmetrical at least in the basal pinnae, basal basiscopic

pinnule the largest and much developed; lobes 5-7 pairs, 0.5-1.0 cm long, 0.3-0.5

cm broad, alternate, almost sessile, lanceolate, asymmetrical, basal lobes larger than

the acroscopic ones, apex acute, margin inciso-serrate or deeply lobed, almost to the

costa, or becoming pinnate, costae and costules glabrous. Sori indusiate, round, 2-4

121

pairs in a single row on either side o f the costule, confluent at maturity; indusia

light brown, cup-shaped, thin, persistent, shrivelling up at maturity, covered with

marginal unicellular glands, apex fimbriate. Spores dark brown, non-perinate; exine

echinate.


Geographical Distribution: India; China; Nepal; Asia; W. Europe; N. America.

Ecology. A rare fern o f high altitudes, between 2700-4200 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (A itch is on 120); Sonamarg, c. 11,000 ft (R.R. Stewart

6868) in a cliff-crevice; Bangas Valley, Kupwara.


Cystopteris dentata Desv.: Reported by Mehra and Khullar (1974), and followed by

Dhir (1980) from Kashmir Valley (Lidderwatt, 3150 m); a synonym o f Cystopteris

fragilis (Khullar, 2000).

Deparia Hook, et Grev., Icon. Fil. 2: 154 (1829).

Type: Deparia prolifera (Kaulf.) Hook, el Grev.

The genus is represented by nine species in India (Chandra, 2000); four arc


Key to the Species:

la. Rhizome sub-erect or erect; lower pinnae gradually reduced:

2a. Fronds up to 60 cm long; lowest acroscopic pinnule in each pinna markedly

elongated and deflexed; spores large.........................................................D. acuta

2b. Fronds more than 70 cm long; lowest acroscopic pinnule in each pinna o f

the same size and hardly more lobed; spores small...............D. allantodioides

lb. Rhizome creeping; lower pinnae not reduced:

3a. Lamina lanceolate, 20-40 cm long................................................ D. macdonellii

3b. Lamina triangular-lanceolate, 20-25 cm long....................................D.japonica

Deparia acuta (Ching) Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Ferns Nepal: 102

(1997); Chandra, Ferns India: 144 (2000); Khullar, IIlus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 107

(2000).

Lunathyrium acutum Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 9: 73 (1964).

Slipes long, 25 cm or longer, thick, somewhat densely scaly at base. Lamina

2- pinnatifid, large, 50-60 cm long or longer, 10-13 cm broad, lanceolate, firm,

chartaceous, glabrous; pinnae 20-25 pairs, 5-8 cm long. 1.0-1.5 cm broad (largest

middle pair), lanceolate, lower 3-4 pairs gradually much reduced, basal reduced

pinna c. 3 cm long, margin deeply lobed; pinnules (lobes) 10-15 pairs. 1.0-1.5 cm

long, narrow, lanceolate, apex acute, margin entire, lowest acroscopic pinnule

(lobe) enlarged and deflexed. Sori small. 2^4 pairs per lobe, indusiate; indusia o f the

same shape as the sori. reddish-brown, persistent. Spores large.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; High Asia.

Ecology: Grow's on hill-slopes, in open rocky places near the streams, between

2300-3800 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (S. P. Khullar)\ Gulmarg to Tangmarg Nallah (S. P.

Khullar); Pahalgam; Chandanwari; Kolahoi Glacier; Gurez (\faajed 2\3).

Deparia allantodioides (Bedd.) Kato in Annals Carnegie Mus. 49: 177 (1980);

Chandra, Ferns India: 144 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 109 (2000).

Athyrium allantodioides Bedd.. Ferns Brit. India: t. 221 (1867).

Asplenium thelypteroides sensu Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 48

(1880), non Michx.

Athyrium thelypteroides sensu Bedd., Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 164 (1883);

Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1:91 (1980), non Michx.

A. acrostichoides sensu Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 414 (1945), and in

N asirand Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 9 (1972), non Diels.

Lunathyrium allantodioides (Bedd.) Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 9: 72 (1964);

Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 136 (1984).

Rhizome short, sub-erect or erect, scaly. Stipes 20-25 cm long, brown or

stramineous, thick, scaly, fibrillose and hairy, higher up on stipe scales becoming

smaller, narrower and fewer, fibrils and hairs light brown; rachis coloured like

stipe, scaly, fibrillose and hairy, scales only towards rachis base, higher up rachis

only fibrillose and hairy. Lamina 1- pinnate, large, 50-110 cm long, 15-25 cm

broad, lanceolate or elongate-elliptic, texture herbaceous, sparsely hairy; pinnae

many, over 25 pairs, 7-10 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, alternate, sessile, lanceolate,

123

margin deeply lobed to the costa; lobes many, 15-20 pairs, regular, 0.5-1.0 cm long,

narrow, 0.2-0.4 cm broad, apex rounded, margin serrate or serrate-dentate, lower

pinnae gradually reduced, at times to mere auricles, distant, downwards deflexed.

Sori indusiate, extending from the costule to almost the margin, almost touching

each other at maturity, in 3-6 pairs on either side o f the costule; indusia dark brown,

linear, few J-shaped or hippocrepiform (especially in the distal parts o f middle

pinnae), large, persistent, curling back at maturity, margin fimbriate. Spores dark

brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Japan.

Ecology: Common in Kashmir Valley, from 2100-3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg; Sind Valley (Clarke 30983, CAL); Lidder Valley

(J.F, Duthie 13181, CAL); Pahalgam, enroute Kolahoi Glacier, 2700 m (K.K.

Dhir); Bamai, Gurez (Wadhwa 85070, BSD; Maajed 102, 236, 262).

Deparia japonica (Thunb. ex Murray) Kato in Bot. Mag. Tokyo 90: 37 (1977);

Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 335 (1993); Chandra, Ferns India: 145

(2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 115 (2000). P la te - 2 0 (I).

Asplenium japonicum Thunb. ex Murray, Syst. Veg.: 934 (1784), nom. nud.

Diplazium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murray) sensu Bedd., Ferns Brit. India Suppl.: 12

(1876), pro parte and Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 180 (1883), p ro parte; Stewart in

Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 415 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI.

W. Pak. and Kashmir: 11 (1972), pro parte.

Lunathyrium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murray) Kurata in J. Geobot. 9: 99 (1961);


Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly. Stipes c. 30 cm long, often shorter than

the lamina, stramineous, with dark brown base, thick, scaly, fibrillose and hairy,

higher up scales sparse and narrower; rachis sparsely scaly, fibrillose and hairy.

Lamina 1- pinnate, 20-25 cm long, 10-12 cm broad, triangular-lanceolate or sub-

deltate, texture herbaceous, sparsely hairy; pinnae 10-12 pairs, 5-6 cm long, 1.0-1.5

cm broad (largest pinnae), distant, alternate, lower 4-5 pairs petiolate, upper sessile,

lanceolate, margin deeply lobed to the costa; lobes c. 10 pairs, small, 0.5-0.7 cm

124

long, 0.3-0.4 cm broad, regular, symmetrical, apex rounded, with few short blunt

teeth, margin sub-entire or finely serrate, lower pinnae generally the largest or

slightly smaller than the pair above. Sori indusiate, extending from the costule up to

the margin but not quite reaching it; indusia convex, brown, linear, rarely J-shaped

or hippocrepiform, thin, membranaceous, persistent, curling back at maturity,

margin fimbriate with few projections. Spores dark brown, perinatc.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Korea; Japan; Malay

Peninsula; Polynesia.

Ecology: Occasional, between 1200-2200 m altitudes, growing along moist shady

places or streams.

Local Distribution: Buniyar, Baramulla (Maajed 185); Keran, Kishenganga Valley

(.McDonell, K); Pir Panjal (McDonell).

Deparia macdonellii (Bedd.) Kato in J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo 13(4); 391 (1984);

Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 335 (1993); Chandra, Ferns India: 147

(2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 117 (2000).

Asplenium macdonellii Bedd. in J. Bot. 27: 73 (1889); Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 13 :669(1901).

Athyrium macdonellii (Bedd.) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India Suppl.: 34 (1892);


Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir; 9 (1972).

Lunathyrium macdonellii (Bedd.) Ching in Acta Bot. Austro-Sinica 1: 21 (1983).

Rhizome long creeping, black. Stipes 25-30 cm long, stramineous or pale

brown, scaly, fibrillose and hairy; rachis stramineous or brown, grooved on upper

surfacc, Fibrillose and hairy. Lamina 1- pinnate, 20-40 cm long, 12-25 cm broad,

lanceolate or deltate-lanceolate or ovate, brown when dry, texture herbaceous,

sparsely hairy; pinnae 10-15 (-20) pairs, 7-12 cm long, 2-4 cm broad, distant,

alternate, shortly petiolate, lanceolate, margin deeply lobed, or lobed nearly to the

costa leaving only a very narrow wing along the costae, sinus wide, squarish or

obcuneate; lobes 8-12 pairs, 1-2 cm long, 0.4-1.0 cm broad, ligulate, oblong, sub

opposite to alternate, base truncate, apex rounded, with few sharp, dentate

125

projections, margin crenate-serrate or Iobcd 'A to 'A to the costule into 3-4

segments; lobes in the middle of pinnae the largest, lower 2-3 pairs gradually

reduced, lowest pinnae often the largest, or lower 1 or 2 pairs slightly smaller than

the pair above. Sori indusiate, 3-5 pairs per pinnule-lobe. medial, extending to the

sinus of the pinnule-lobe segments, linear or curved or J-shaped, large, thin,

persistent, margin fimbriate. Spores brown, perinate; perine convoluted into

irregular blunt folds, appearing like flat papillae.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Japan; Europe.

Ecology: Rare, growing between 1200-1800 m altitudes, in very wet situations or

along stream-Iets.

Local Distribution: Buniyar, Harpat Rai Nallah, near Rampur, Jhelum Valley

(McDonell); Kitardaji, Lolab Valley, near Baramulla (McDonell); Lolab Valley (R.

McLeod); Kanzalwan, Gurez (J.F. Duthie 12622, DD); Kishenganga Valley (R.R.

Stewart 17623, CAL); Nil Nag, 5,000-7,000 ft (C. W Hope., R.R. Stewart).


Deparia acrostichoides (Sw.) Kato: Stewart (1972) misreported this fern [under the

name Athyrium acrostichoides (Sw.) Diels], to be common in Kashmir. However,

D. acrostichoides does not occur in the Himalayas at all (Kato 1984, Fraser-

Jenkins, 1997a, b), but is a North American and Far N.E. Asian species. The fern

reported under this name from Kashmir belong to Deparia allantodioides.

Diplazium Sw., Schrad. J. Bot. 1800(2): 61 (1801).

Type: Diplazium plantagineum (L.) Sw.

The genus comprises about 380 species (Khullar, 2000); only two are


Key to the Species:

la . Fronds o f moderate size (up to 50 cm), with black scales scattered above and on

the rachis..........................................................................................................j)t sibiricum

lb . Fronds large to huge (60-100 cm), with brown scales confined to lower part o f

the stipes......................................................................................................... j). maximum

126

Diplazium maximum (D. Don) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 235 (1905); Fras.-Jenk., Rev.

W. Himal. Athyrium: 19 (1997); Chandra, Ferns India: 153 (2000); Khullar. Ilius.

Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 135(2000). P late - 20 (II).

Asplenium maximum D. Don, Prodr. FI. Nepal: 8 (1825).

A. latifolium D. Don var. frondosa Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1:

503 (1880).

Diplazium flaccidum Christ in Bull. Geogr. Bot. Mans.: 135 (1906).

D. frondosum (Clarke) Christ in Not. Syst. Lecomte 1: 46 (1909), nom. super/!, for

D. flaccidum.

D. giganteum (Baker) Ching in C. Chr., Index Fil. Suppl. 3: 73 (1934).

D. polypodioides sensu aucl. West Himalaya, non Blume (1828); Stewart in Nasir

and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 11 (1972).

Rhizome ascending or very short creeping, thick, apex scaly; scales mid- to

pale brown, 0.4-1.7x0.1-0.2 cm, linear-lanceolate, margin toothed, marginal cells

thickened. Stipes c. 75 cm long, stramineous to light brown, base dark brown or

blackish, non-mucronate, usually longer than the lamina, thick, dia. 1.0-1.5 cm,

scaly at base, scales as on rhizome, but longer, narrowly lanceolate, gradually

getting smaller in size higher up on the stipe, or stipes glabrous, never muricated;

rachis stramineous, glabrous, not muricatcd. Lamina 2- pinnate, huge, size variable,

80 cm (-1 m) long, 45 cm broad, broadly ovate-lanceolate, texture herbaceous,

glabrous; pinnae 10-12 pairs, 35-40 cm long, 15 cm broad, alternate, petiolate,

second basal pair the largest; pinnules 4-8 cm long, 1.8-2.0 cm broad, deeply lobed

to the costa; lobes 0.6-0.7 cm long, 0.4-0.5 cm broad, apex obtuse or acute, margin

minutely serrulate; veins free, simple or forked in the well-developed basal lobes o f

pinnule, upper ones having simple veins with occasionally forked ones intermixed.

Sort indusiate, in two oblique rows, length variable, stretching from costa and

almost reaching the margin, usually on the lowermost veinlet, diplazoid at the base

o f lobes; indusia linear, thin, early caducous, margin irregularly and variously

fimbriate. Spores light brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution4. India; Pakistan; China; Nepal.

127

Ecology: Common, between 1200-2500 m altitudes, in moist shady places.

Local Distribution: Buniyar, Baramulla (Mciajed 186); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart

6924 teste Khullar); Sind Valley, Kangan (R.R. Stewart teste Khullar); Sonamarg;

Kishenganga Valley, 1700 m (T.A. Raos.n., DD).

Diplazium sibiricum (Turcz. ex Kunze) Kurata in Namegata and Kurata, Enum.

Jap. Ptcrid. 292: 340 (1961); Fras.-Jenk. in Pak. Syst. 5: 86 (1992); Chandra, Ferns

India: 155 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 143 (2000).

Asplenium sibiricum Turcz. ex Kunze, Anal. Pterid.: 25, t. 15 (1837).

Aspidium crenalum Sommerf., Vet. Ak. Handl. 1834: 104 (1835); Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72: 413 (1945).

Athyrium crenatum (Sommerf.) Rupr. ex Nyland, Spicil. PI. Fenn. 2 :14 (1844).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, apex scaly. Stipes 1.5-2.0 cm distant on

rhizome, 15-20 cm long, longer than the lamina, stramineous, thin, base scaly,

scales as on rhizome, higher up stipes sparsely scaly or almost glabrous; rachis

stramineous, scaly. Lamina 2- pinnate, 15-20 cm long, 12-18 cm broad, widely

triangular-lanceolate or dcltatc, texture herbaceous, upper surface glabrous; pinnae

c. 7 pairs, 9-15 cm long, 4-6 cm broad, alternate, petiolate, lanceolate, lowest pair

the largest; pinnules 10-12 pairs, c. 2-4 cm long, 0.5-1.0 cm broad, alternate, lower

petiolate, upper ones sessile, lanceolate, asymmetrical, apex acute, margin deeply

lobed almost to the costa; lobes 5-8 pairs, 0.5-1.0 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, apex

round, margin finely crenate. Sori indusiate, short, stretching from costa to margin,

very few diplazoid; indusia brown, linear or slightly curved, thin, persistent, margin

irregularly lobed. Spores dark brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; N. Asia; Europe.

Ecology: Rare, between 2400-2700 m altitudes, in shady forest slopes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg, besides a stream-let on the Gulmarg-Tangmarg pony

track (S.P. Khullar)-, Chandanwari, growing in shaded places along a streamlet,

2400 m (K.K. Dhir); Pahalgam, 5,000-8,000 ft (R.R. Stewart 21495 teste Khullar);

Keran Nallah, Kishenganga Valley (McDomll teste Khullar); below Gurez (J.F.

Duthie 12630 teste Khullar); Sharda to Kel, Kishenganga Valley (R.R. Stewart

128

17808, CAL teste Khullar); Donari Nallah, 7,000 ft (McDonell teste Khullar);

Kishenganga V alley (J.F. Duthie 14100, DD teste Khullar).


Diplazium frondosum (Clarke) Christ: Khullar and Sharma (1987) reported this

fern from various locations within Kashmir Valley. However, Fraser-Jenkins

(19976) has shown that D. frondosum is a superfluous name, because when Christ

(1909) raised it to the specific rank, he included D. flaccidum Christ within it,

which predated ‘'frondosum' at that rank, and should have been used instead

(Khullar, 2000).

Diplaziumpolypodioides Bl.: Reported by Stewart (1972) from various locations in

Kashmir Valley. However, Sledge (1962) and Khullar (1984) found that the name

D. polypodioides had been misapplied by all authors to the common West

Himalayan plant, now known as D. maximum. Therefore, all earlier reports o f D.

polypodioides from the West Himalaya are for D maximum (Khullar, 2000).

Diplazium squamigerum (Wall, ex Mett.) Matsum: Stewart (1972) reported this

fern from various locations in Kashmir Valley. However, all reports o f this species

from Kashmir (westwards) are Diplazium sibiricum (Khullar, 2000).

Gymnocarpium Newman, Phytologist 4: 371 (1851).

Type: Gymnocarpium dryopteris (L.) Newman.

The genus comprises six species (Sarvela, 1978); a single species is


Gymnocarpium fedtschenkoanum Pojark, Soobsch. Tadzhik. Fil. Akad. Nauk

S.S.S.R. 22: 9 (1950); Khullar, Illus. Fem. FI. W. Himal. 2: 155 (2000).

Plate-2 1 (I).Rhizome long creeping, dark brown, thin, sparsely scaly, scales pale or pale

brown. Stipes 0.5-2.0 cm distant on rhizome, 7-25 cm long, longer than the lamina,

stramineous, thin, scaly, higher up on stipe scales fewer and smaller, or stipes

almost glabrous; rachis stramineous, glabrous or scantily glandular, particularly at

the junction o f the pinnae. Lamina 2-3- pinnate, 5-15 cm long or longer, 5-15 cm

broad, deltate, texture herbaceous, light green, glabrous; pinnae c. 5 pairs, 7-10 cm

long or longer, 4 cm broad, opposite, long petiolate, ± triangular-lanceolate or

129

deltate, lowest pair the largest, well-developed, distant; pinnules c. 5 pairs, 1-3 cm

long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad (largest pinnule), alternate, lower ones shortly petiolate with

glands at base, upper sessile, ± lanceolate, asymmetrical, basal pinnules larger than

acroscopic ones, especially in lower 1 or 2 pinnae, margins lobed more than

halfway to the costule in young fronds, or becoming pinnate in well-developed

plants, basal basiscopic pinnule in the lowest pinnae the largest and more

developed, ultimate lobes c. 5 pairs, 1-2 cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm broad, alternate,

sessile, base cuneate in lower 2-3 pairs, broadly adnate in the rest, rectangular, apex

rounded, with 2-4 small teeth, margin crenate, with a few small lobes bearing few

smail acute teeth. Son exindusiate, round, medial or sub-marginal, in 4-6 pairs in a

single row on either side o f costule. Spores dark brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Tadzhikistan; S.W. China; Tibet;

Nepal.

Ecology. Fairly common, between 2000-3000 m altitudes, in deep moist and

sheltered ravines, along the mountain stream sides.

Local Distribution: Ferozepur Nallah, Tangmarg (Maajed); Gulmarg (Maajed 125);

Aru, Pahalgam {Maajed 393); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart); Sonamarg (R.R. Stewart);

Baltal (R.R. Stewart); Sheeshnag, enroute Amamath, 3900 m (K.K. Dhir); Sarda,

Kishenganga Valley (R.R. Stewart 17775, CAL); Pir Panjal Range, 2300 m (Eoniqu

s . n Acc. No. 20104, CAL); Bamai, Gurcz (Maajed 303, 313); Chorwan, Gurez

(Maajed2\6, 229, 248 etc.); Batalik, Ladakh, 2700 m (.Maajed 455-460).

Common Name\ Woodland Oak Fern (English).

This fem has been identified under various misapplied names in the earlier

literature on Himalayan ferns, which include:

Polypodium dryopteris L.: This name was used by Clarke (1880) and Hope (1903).

Phegopteris dryopteris (L.) Fee: Beddome (1883) used this name (under

Polypodium).

Dryopteris linnaeana C. Chr.: A name used by Stewart (1945).

D. robertiana (Hoffm.) C. Chr.: Name used by Stewart (1945).

D. remotipinnata Hay.: Used by Stewart (1957).

130

Thelypteris remotipinnata (Hay.) Alston: Used by Stewart (1972).

Qymnocarpium dryopteris (L.) Newman: A name used by Dhir (1980).

Thelypteridaceae Pich. Serm. in Webbia 24: 709 (1970).

Type: Thelypteris Schmid.

The family comprises 32 genera (Pichi Sermolli, 1977); five genera

(merging Chrisiella in Thelypteris) are recorded from our area.

Key to the Genera:

la. Upper surface o f pinna-costae grooved; veins mostly simple and reaching the

margin:

2a. Rhizome long creeping; flat thin scales without superficial hairs on lower

surfacc o f costae; veins free..................................................................Thelypteris

2b. Rhizome generally short creeping or erect, if long creeping, no flat scalcs

(as above) on lower surface o f costae:

3a. Veins anastomosing......................................................................Pronephrium

3b. Veins free.......................................................................... Glaphyropteridopsis

lb. Upper surface o f pinna-costae not grooved; veins forked, not reaching the

margin:

4a. Stipe-scales with only marginal acicular hairs, none on surface; pinnae

adnate, connected along rachis by a wide wing...............................Phegopteris

4b. Stipe-scales with hairs on surface; rachis wing absent, or if present very

narrow.......................................................................................... Pseudophegopteris

Glaphyropteridopsis Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 8: 320 (1963).

Type: Glaphyropteridopsis erubescens (Wall, ex Hook.) Ching.

The genus is represented by about four spccies; only one is recorded from

the area o f study.

Glaphyropteridopsis erubescens (Wall, ex Hook.) Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica

8: 320 (1963); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 108 (1984); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt.

FI. Pakistan 2: 327 (1993); Chandra, Ferns India: 300 (2000); Khullar, Ulus. Fern

FI. W. Himal. 2; 195 (2000).

Polypodium erubescens Wall, ex Hook., Sp. Fil. 6: 236 (1862); Clarke in Trans.


78(1903).

Phegopteris erubescens (Wall, ex Hook.) J. Sm., Hist. Fil.: 233 (1875); Bedd.,

Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 289 (1883).

Thelypteris erubescens (Wall, ex Hook.) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.)

6: 293 (1936); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 16 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 99 (1980).

Rhizome short, erect, with a rosette o f fronds around it, apex scaly. Stipes

30-60 cm (-1 m) long, as long as the lamina, pink or stramineous or pale yellow,

thick, dia. up to 1 cm, hairy just below rachis, stipe-base scaly; scales sparse,

deciduous, similar to those on rachis but smaller, rest o f stipe glabrous; rachis hairy.

Lamina 1- pinnate, usually large or huge, c. 2 m long, 60 cm broad, broad

lanceolate, texture sub-coriaceous, lower surface sparsely hairy, upper almost

glabrous except along costae and costules; pinnae 25-30 pairs or more, c. 16 cm

long, 2 cm broad, opposite to sub-opposite, sessile, elongate-oblong, base truncate,

apex acuminate, margin deeply lobed to costa; lobes many, c. 1 cm long, 0.2 cm

broad, narrow-oblong, apex sub-acute, margin entire, basal acroscopic and

basiscopic lobes much developed and sometimes almost touching the corresponding

pinnae above and below, swollen pale aerophores at base o f pinnae, lower 1-3 pairs

of pinnae strongly downwards deflexed, the lowermost pinnae narrowed to the

base. Fronds smelling strongly o f dried hay (Coumarin), when freshly dried. Sori

exindusiate, generally on the lower veins, complete lobe seldom fertile, contiguous,

close to the costule. Spores dark brown, perinate.


Sporulation: September - March.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; S.W. China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan;

Malaysia; Japan.

Ecology: This very large fern is usually found between 900-2400 m altitudes, in wet

ground below springs or bye-streams.

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road (R.R. Stewart); Banihal (R.R. Stewart);

Dhani-Titwal, 1500 m, Lower K ishenganga Valley (R.R. Stew art 17407, CAL).

132

Phegopteris Fee, Gen. Fil.: 242 (1852), emend. Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 8:

312 (1836).

Type: Phegopteris com ectilis (Michx.) Watt.

Only three species (Ching, 1963; Holttum 1969, 1971) have been included

in this genus; a single species is recorded from our area.

Phegopteris connectilis (Michx.) Watt, Canad. Nat.: 29 (1870); Dixit, Cens. Indian

Pterid: 110 (1984); Chandra, Ferns India: 306 (2000); Khullar. Ulus. Fern FI. W.

Himal. 2: 204 (2000). Plate - 21 (II).

Polypodium connectile Michx., FI. Bor. Amer. 2: 271 (1803).

P. phegopteris L., Sp. PI.: 1089 (1753); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1: 544 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 79 (1903).

Phegopteris polypodioides Fee, Gen. Fil.: 243 (1850-1852); Dhir, Ferns N.W.

Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 106 (1980).

P. vulgaris Mett., Fil. Hort. Lips: 83 (1856), nom. illeg.\ Bedd., Handbook Fems

Brit. India: 290(1883).

Dryopteris phegopteris (L.) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 284 (1905); Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72: 410 (1945).

Thelypteris phegopteris (L.) Slosson in Rydb., Fi. Rocky Mountains: 1043 (1917);

Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 17(1972).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, branching, scaly, sparsely hairy. Stipes c. 1 cm

distant on rhizome, 16-20 (-30) cm long, stramineous, but dark brown at base, ±

thin, scaly, hairy, becoming glabrous with age; main rachis winged, hairy, scaly.

Lamina 1- pinnate, 10-15 (-22) cm long, (7-) 10-18 cm broad, sub-deltate, texture

herbaceous, hairy; pinnae 5-7 pairs, 3-7 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad, opposite,

sessile, adnate, often 1 or 2 lower pinnae free, linear-lanceolate, narrowed towards

the base, apex acute or acuminate, margin deeply lobed almost to the costa (in

lower pinnae), gradually less lobed in distal pinnae; lobes entire or crenate, except

those on lower pinnae, in large fronds lowermost pinnae distant, generally the

largest (or the lower one or two pinnae about equal), somewhat downwards

deflexed, separately adnate to rachis by narrow base, narrowed to base on

basiscopic side. Sori exindusiate, round, sub-terminal on veins; sporangia

sometimes hairy. Spores brown, perinate.

133

Cytology: Triploid apomictic, ln'=90.


Geographical Distribution: Throughout the north temperate regions o f the world,

extending south to the Himalaya.

Ecology: Common, growing in moist or marshy situations or near streams, from

2500-3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg, 2700 m {Maajed 43, 81, 120; K.K. Dhir, R.R. Stewart

10480; Venning 152, 214, 228); Khillanmarg (R.R. Stewart 8698); Pahalgam;

Sonamarg (R.R. Stewart 9702); Rajdhan Pass (R.R. Stewart 18003, 19478); Fras

Nag (R.R. Stewart 23206); Bagtor-Burzil Nallah, Gurez (Wadhwa 84039, BSD);

Izmarg, Gurez (Maajed 239, 242a).

Common Name: Long Beech Fern (English).

Pronephrium Presl, Epim. Bot.: 258 (1851), emend. Holtt. in Blumea 19: 34

(1971).

Type: Pronephrium lineatum (Bl.) Presl.

The genus comprises 61 species (Holttum, 1972); only one species is


Pronephrium penangianum (Hook.) P. Chandra in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 13: 274

(1971); Holtt. in Blumea 20: 110 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 105 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: I l l (1984); Chandra, Ferns

India: 310 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 209 (2000).

Polypodium penangianum Hook., Sp. Fil. 5: 13 (1863).

P. lineatum Colebr. ex Hook., Sp. Fil.: 5: 12 (1863); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 15: 83 (1903).

Nephrodium costatum Bedd., Ferns Brit. India: t. 220 (1867).

Dryopteris rampans C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 287 (1905); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.

Club 72:408(1945).

Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 8: 253


(1972).

Rhizome long creeping, thick, dia. 0.4-0.6 cm or more, scaly, margin hairy.

Stipes 1 -2 cm distant on rhizome, c. 1 m long, light brown or stramineous, but dark

134

at base, thick, dia. 0.3-0.4 cm, glabrous, but scaly at base, hairy; rachis reddish to

stramineous, lower surface hairy, upper glabrous. Lamina 1- pinnate, large, up to 1

m long, 30 cm broad, texture sub-coriaceous, lower surface sparsely hairy, upper ±

glabrous; pinnae many, c. 18 pairs or more, 20-30 cm long, narrow 1.5-2.0 (-3.5)

cm broad, alternate, shortly petiolate, lanceolate, margin crenate-serrate to coarsely

and sharply toothed, drying reddish, aerophores at base o f pinnae large, shrivelling

upon drying, lower pinnae not reduced. Sori exindusiate, small, lower divergent, or

not, close to costule; sporangia not setose. Spores dark brown, perinate.


Sporulation: March - June.

Geographical Distribution-. India; Pakistan; China; Nepal.

Ecology: Rare, growing on moist shady rocks or near waterfalls, from 1200-1600 m

altitude.

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road (E. W. Trotter and R. McLeod).

Pseudophegopteris Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 8 :313 (1963).

Type: Pseudophegopteris pyrrhorhachis (Kunze) Ching.

The genus contains about 20 spccies (Holttum, 1969, 1971); two species are


Key to the Species and Sub-species:

la . Rhizome thin, long creeping; pinnae short..................................................P. levingei

lb . Rhizome thick, long or short creeping or sub-erect; pinnae long:

2a. Rhizome long creeping, fronds widely spaced;

3a. Pinnules more acute and dissect; rhizome more widely creeping...............

..................................................................P. pyrrhorhachis subsp. laterepens

3b. Pinnules less acute and dissect; rhizome less widely creeping.....................

...................................................................................................P. pyrrhorhachis

2b. Rhizome short creeping or sub-erect; fronds close.................................................

..............................................................................P. pyrrhorhachis subsp. distans

135

Pseudophegopteris levingei (Clarke) Ching in A da Phytotax. Sinica 8 :314 (1963).

excl. syn. Dryopteris bukoensis Tag.; Dixit. Cens. Indian Pterid: 113 (1984):

Nakaike and Maiik. Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 328 (1993): Chandra. Ferns India: 317

(2000); Khullar. Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 221 (2000). Plate - 22 (I).

Gymnogramma aurita var. levingei Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1:

568 (1880).

Leptogramma aurita Hook. var. levingei (Clarke) Bedd.. Handbook Fems Brit.

India: 377 (1883).

Gymnogramma levingei (Clarke) Baker in Ann. Bot. 5: 483 (1891); Hope in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 99 (1903).

Thelypteris levengei (Clarke) Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Boil. (Bot.) 6: 273

(1936); Stewart in Nasir and Ali. Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 16

(1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 100 (1980).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, scaly. Stipes 1-2 cm distant on rhizome. 15-30

cm long, stramineous, base blackish, thin, hairy, sparsely scaly: rachis stramineous,

hairy, sparsely scaly (when young). Lamina I- pinnate, 40-60 cm long, texture

herbaceous, lower surface hairy all over, upper surface hairy along the costae and

costules; pinnae 15-20 pairs, 4-10 cm long, 1.5-3.0 cm broad, alternate, shortly

petiolate or sub-sessile (towards lamina apex), debate, apex acuminate, margin

lobed almost to the costa; lobes 1-2 cm long, 0.3-0.8 cm broad, basal pair unequal,

acroscopic lobes longer than the basiscopic ones, base broadly truncate, apex acute

or sub-acute, margin deeply lobed, or progressively less lobed to almost entire

towards pinnae apex, lower 2-4 pairs distant and gradually reduced, lowermost

pinnae widely spaced. Sori exindusiate, small, round or elongate along veins, sub-

marginal; sporangia with slender setae. Spores brown, perinate.


Sporulation: May - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; W. China; Tibet.

Ecology: Common, generally found between 1200-2600 m altitudes.

local Distribution: Jhelum Valley (R.R. Stewart); Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed

176-180, 352); Gulmarg (Maajed 113); Tangmarg, 2700 m (K.K. Dhir; Maajed);

Sind Valley, 2250 m (E.W. Trotter 10168, DD); enroute Amamath. 2700 m (K.K.

Dhir)\ Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart): Pahalgam; Pir Panjal Range, 4.000-8,000 ft

(R.R. Stewart): Haripur, Pir Panjal, 2250 m {G.A. Gammie sn .. DD): Gurez

(Maajed 2\2* 218, 224).

Pseudophegopteris pyrrhorhachis (Kunze) Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 8: 215

(1963); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 113 (1984); Nakaike and Malik. Crypt. FI.

Pakistan 2: 328 (1993); Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Ferns Nepal: 213

(1997); Chandra, Ferns India; 318 (2000); Khullar. Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 227

(2000 ).

Polypodium pyrrhorhachis Kunze in Linnaea 24: 257 (1851).

Nephrodium microstegium Hook., Sp. Fil.: 4: 119. t. 250 (1862).

Lastrea microstegia (Hook.) Bedd.. Ferns Brit. India: t. 39 {1865).

Polypodium distans D. Don var. adnata Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1: 544(1880).

Thelypteris pyrrhorhachis (Kunze) Nayar et Kaur. Companion Beddome's

Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 72 (1974).

Rhizome sub-erect. Stipes 20-50 cm long, shorter than the lamina, stout,

dark brown to dark purple, stramineous, base dark; rachis similar to stipes,

brownish or stramineous, hairy. Lamina 2- pinnatifid, 50-70 cm long, 20-30 cm

broad, herbaceous, hairy; pinnae 20-30 pairs, 15-20 cm long, 2-4 cm broad,

opposite to sub-opposite, middle ones alternate, sessile, oblique, apex pinnatifid,

deeply lobed to the costa; lobes 1-2 cm long, alternate, base broad, adnate, lower 2-

4 pairs o f pinnae distant and reduced; veins 8-10 pairs corresponding to the pinna-

lobes, simple or forked, free, hairy. Sori exindusiate, small, 1-3 per lobe, orbicular

or running along veins. Spores brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution; India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Burma; Japan;

Srilanka.

Ecology: Grows in wet places and bye-streams, in forests, between 2000-2700 m

altitudes.

Local Distribution: Tangmarg, 2100 m (K.K. Dhir): Aru, Pahalgam, 2700 m (K.K.

Dhir).

137

Pseudophegopteris pyrrhorhachis (Kunze) Ching subsp. distans Fras.-Jenk., New

Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 21 (1997); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal.

2:223 (2000).

Polypodium distans D. Don, Prodr. FI. Nepal: 2 (1825), non Kaulf. (1824).

Phegopteris distans (D. Don) Mett., Abh, Senckenb. Naturf. Ges. 2. Phegopteris

and Aspidium: 16(1858).

Rhizome short creeping or sub-erect. Stipes 20-45 (-60) cm long, usually

shorter than lamina, thick, dark brown to dark purple (mauve) or stramineous, base

dark, hairy, sparsely scaly; rachis brownish or stramineous, hairy, occasionally

scaly. Lamina 1 (-2-3)- pinnate, 50-75 cm long, 20-30 cm broad, texture

herbaceous, hairy; pinnae 20-30 pairs, 15-20 cm long. 2-4 cm broad (largest),

progressively opposite to sub-opposite, alternate (middle ones, then opposite),

sessile, oblique, apex pinnatifid, acuminate, deeply lobed to costa, lobes 1-2 (-3) cm

long, 0.3-0.5 cm broad, alternate, base broad, adnate, contiguous or connected by a

narrow wing, apex sub-acute, basal lobes more developed, with the margin

crenately lobed or pinnatifid halfway to costule, in others (towards apices o f

pinnae) progressively less lobed to almost entire, lower 2-4 pairs of pinnae distant

and ± reduced (degree o f reduction variable), lowermost pinnae widely spaced. Sori

exindusiate, small, 2-3 per lobe, orbicular or running a little along veins on apex o f

an acroscopic branch o f forked vein. Spores brown, perinate.


Geographical Distribution: India; South and S.W. China; Tonkin; Malaysia;

Vietnam; Philippines; Taiwan; Sri Lanka; Polynesia.

Ecology: Occasional, around c. 2100 m altitude, in the south-eastern-most part o f

Kashmir.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (Maajed 68, 78).

Pseudophegopteris pyrrhorhachis (Kunze) Ching subsp. laterepens (Trotter in

Hope) Fras.-Jenk., New Sp, Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 215 (1997);


Polypodium laterepens Trotter in Hope, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 628 (1899).

Dryopteris laterepens (Trotter in Hope) C. Chr., Index Fil. I: 274 (1905); Stewart

in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 409 (1945).

138

Thelypteris laterepens (Trotter in Hope) Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase,

pi. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 16 (1972).

Rhizome long creeping, thin, dark purple, scaly, scales light brown. Stipes

distant on rhizome. 30-60 cm long, dark purple and bent round at base, becoming

light brown or stramineous above, more or less scaly; rachis similar to stipe, scaly.

Lamina sub 2- pinnate, 25-30 cm long, 10-15 cm broad, lanceolate, herbaceous,

lower surface hairy; pinnae 20-30 pairs. 10-15 cm long, 2-4 cm broad (at base),

lowest pair often reduced, sessile, tapering to a point, almost lobed the midrib;

pinnules decurrent, oblong, blunt, margin acutely or crenately lobed (more acute

and dissect than subsp. pyrrhorhachis). Sori exindusiate, medial, orbicular, terminal

on veinlets, usually two or three to each lobe.



Ecology: Grows in damp soil, from c. 1500-3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (E.fV. Trotter); Dardpura (R. McLeod).

Thelypteris Schmid, in Keller, Icon. PI.: 45 (1763), nom. cons.

Type: Thelypterispalustris (Salisb.) Schott.

The genus comprises about nine species; three species are recorded from the

area o f study.

Key to the Species:

la . Lower pinnae gradually or abruptly reduced, lowest pair much smaller than the

middle ones:

2a. Rhizome long creeping; pinna-margin shallowly lobed........................ T. arida

2b. Rhizome erect or short creeping..............................................................T. dentata

lb . Lower pinnae not, or little reduced..............................................................T. palustris

Thelypteris arida (D. Don) Morton in Amer. Fem J. 49: 113 (1959); Fras.-Jenk. in

Pak. Syst. 5: 96 (1992) and New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 258 (1997).

Aspidium aridum D. Don, Prodr. FI. Nepal: 4 (1825).

Nephrodium aridum (D. Don) J. Sm. in Hook., J. Bot. 4: 188 (1841); Bedd.,

Handbook Fems Brit. India: 272 (1883); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1: 531 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 746 (1903).

! 39

Christella arida (D. Don) Holtt. in Nayar and Kaur. Companion to Beddome's

Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 206 (1974); Dixil, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 103 (1984);

Chandra, Ferns India: 287 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 178 (2000).

Rhizome long creeping, apex scaly. Stipes 15-30 cm long, thick, brownish

or stramineous, base dark, slightly hairy when young, later glabrous, base sparsely

scaly; rachis hairy. Lamina 1- pinnate, huge, 30-150 cm long, 30-40 cm broad, apex

of lamina almost pinna-like, texture stiff crispaceous, lower surface sparsely hairy,

upper almost glabrous; pinnae c. 30 pairs or more, 16 cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm broad

(largest), lanceolate, alternate, shortly petiolate to sub-sessile, base cuneate, apex

acuminate, margin shallowly lobed, less than '/a to the costae, lobes sub-triangular,

with a short stiff point at apex, lowest 3-5 pairs o f pinnae sub-abruptly or abruptly

reduced, more widely distant, not, or hardly auricled, lowest pinnae very much

reduced, 0.5-1.0 cm long, without acroscopic basal auricles. Sori indusiate, round,

medial, divergent; indusia reniform, hairy or glabrous. Spores brown, perinate.


Sporulation: Major part o f the year.

Geographical Distribution: India; China; Nepal; Bhutan: Thailand; Vietnam;

Malaysia; Philippines; Australia.

Ecology. A rather uncommon fem, growing between 1000-1600 m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Wular Lake area in East Kashmir Valley (E. White 1875, PE).

Thelypteris dentata (Forssk.) St. John in Amer. Fem J. 26: 44 (1936); Stewart in

Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 16 (1972); Fras.-Jenk.,

New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Ferns Nepal: 259 (1997). P la te - 2 2 (II).

Polypodium dentatum Forssk., FI. Aegypt. Arab.: 185 (1775).

Aspidium molle Sw. in Schrad. J. Bot. (Gottingen) 1800(2): 34 (1801).

Nephrodium molle (Sw.) R. Br., Prod. FI. N. Holl.: 149 (1801); Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 67

(1862), pro parte; Bedd., Handbook Ferns Brit. India Suppl.: 76 (1892), pro parte\

Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14; 746 (1903).

Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey et Jermy in Brit. Fem Gaz. 10; 338 (1973);

Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 109 (1984); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FL Pakistan 2:

327 (1993); Chandra, Ferns India: 289 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2:

179 (2000).

140

Rhizome short ascending or short creeping, apex scaly. Stipe length

variable, 5-20 (-30) cm long, thick, dia. 0.2 cm or more, stramineous or light brown,

hairy, stipe-base scaly; rachis hairy. Lamina 1- pinnate, large, 20-35 (-90) cm long,

7-15 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, pinnatifid, texture herbaceous, eglandular, sub-

glabrous, or hairy on both surfaces: fronds i- dimorphic, fertile fronds erect with

pinnae distant, sterile fronds spreading with pinnae closer; pinnae 15-20 pairs, (5-)

8-15 cm long, 1-2 cm broad, sub-opposite to alternate, sessile, lanceolate, base

truncate, apex acuminate, margin lobed, about Z2 or a little more to the costa; lobes

regular, slightly oblique, sub-falcate, rounded, sometime basal acroscopic lobe in

Jower pinnae enlarged into a well-developed auricle, lower 1-4 (or more) pairs of

pinnae distant and much reduced (or not reduced), of the same shape as the others,

slightly downwards deflexed, lowest pinnae 4-5 cm long (sometimes less). Sori

indusiate, medial, 4-6 pairs o f veins in each lobe, generally fertile, in a single row

on either side o f the costule; indusia green, reniform, sometimes glabrous or hairy,

sporangial stalk with thick blunt hairs. Spores dark brown, perinate.


Sporulation: April - October.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; throughout the tropics and subtropics of

the Old World; Tropical America.

Ecology: A rather rare fern, growing along riverbanks, waterfalls etc., from the

plains up to 1500-2000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Buniyar, Baramulla (Maajed 184, 198).

Thelypteris palustris (Salisb.) Schott, Gen. Bot. Fil. ad.: t. 10 (1834); Stewart in

Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 16 (1972); Dhir, Fems

N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica I: 100 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 115

(1984); Khullar, Ulus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 235 (2000). P late - 23 (I).

Polypodiumpalustre Salisb., Prod.: 403 (1796).

Acrostichum thelypteris L., Sp. PI. 2: 1071 (1753).

Nephrodium thelypteroides Michx., FI. Bor. Am. 2: 267 (1803).

Dryopteris thelypteris (L.) A. Gray, Man.: 630 (1848); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.

Club 72:408 (1945).

141

Lasirea thelypteris sensu Bedd.. Fems Brit. India: t. 44 ( 1865) and I landbook Fems

Brit. India: 241 (1883).

Nephrodium ihelypleris Stremp., Fil. Berol. Syn.: 32 (1882); Clarke in Trans. Linn.

Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 717 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 727

(1903).

Thelypteris thelypteroides (Michx.) Holub in Taxon 21: 332 (1972); Chandra, Fems

India: 327 (2000).

Rhizome long creeping, blackish, thin, hairy, sparsely scaly; scales dark

brown, lanceolate. Stipes 30-40 cm long, stramineous, hairy, base dark brown,

stipe-base sparsely scaly, rest glabrous; scales light brown, ovate or broad

lanceolate; rachis stramineous, sparsely hairy; hairs white, long, acicular. Lamina 1-

pinnate, 30-70 cm long, 15-20 cm broad (sterile fronds generally spreading and

broader than the crect fertile ones), lanceolate, texture herbaceous, yellowish-green,

both surfaces ± sparsely hairy; pinnae many. 20-30 pairs. 6-10 cm long, 1.2-1.5 cm

broad (fertile), 8-15 cm long, 2.2-2.7 cm broad (sterile), alternate, sessile or shortly

petiolate, fertile pinnae distant, sterile close together, lanceolate, apex acute, margin

deeply lobed almost to the costa; lobes many. 0.4-0.6 cm long. 0.3 cm broad

(fertile), 1.0-1.8 cm long, 0.5 cm broad (sterile), oblong, narrow, close, regular,

apex acute, margin entire, revolute in fertile pinnae, basal acroscopic and basiscopic

lobes generally the largest, lower 1-2 pairs o f pinnae little reduced but never

strongly, distant. Spores non-perinate; exine spinulose.


Sporulation: August - March.

Geographical Distribution: India; N.E. China; Japan; Korea; Tonkin; Europe;

Caucasus; E. Siberia; N. America.

Ecology: Grows in very wet swampy places, usually on the edges o f lakes.

Local Distribution: Harwan, Srinagar (Maajed 209-211; S.P. Khullar); in and

around Srinagar (Jacquemonr, Levinge; T. Thomson; G.A. Gammie; K.K. Dhir);

Gulmarg (Maajed 244); Kangan, Lower Sind Valley (R.R. Stewart 6925, 13450);

Nil Nag, 5,000-7,000 ft (R.R. Stewart 23055); Bandipora; Lolab Valley.

Common Name: Black Footed Swamp Fern/Marsh Fern (English).

142

Dryopteridaceae Ching in Acta Phytotax. Sinica 10: 1 (1965).

Type: Dryopteris Adanson.

The family is represented by 15 Asiatic genera (Ching, 1978); only three are

recorded in the present study.

Key to the Genera:

la . Veins anastomosing, usually with 1-3 inwardly directed free veinlets; sori

many, irregularly scattered...........................................................................Cyrtomium

lb. Veins not anastomosing; sori ± few, usually in one row on either side o f the

costa:

2a. Indusia reniform, rarely globose; pinnules not, or only weakly auricled with

± rounded auricles, usually bearing several spinose teeth at the pinnule tip ...

..................................................................................................................... Dryopteris

2b. Indusia orbicular; pinnules strongly auricled with ± acute, pointed auricles,

usually bearing a simple long spinose tooth at the tip and also at the pinnule

tip..............................................................................................................Polystichum

Cyrtomium Presl, Tent. Pterid.: 86 (1836).

Type: Cyrtomium falcatum (L.fil.) Presl.

The genus is represented by four species in the West Himalaya; only one

occurs in the area o f study.

Cyrtomium caryotideum (Wall, ex Hook, el Grev.) Presl, Tent. Pterid.: 86, pi. 2


(1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 78 (1980); Dixit. Cens.

Indian Pterid.: 140 (1984); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 33 (1993);

Chandra, Fems India: 166 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 256 (2000).

Aspidium caryotideum Wall. Numcr. List No. 376 (1828), mm. nud.\ Wall, ex

Hook, et Grev., Ic. Fil. PI. 1: t. 69(1828).

A. falcatum sensu Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1 :512 (1880), pro

parte, non Hook, et Grev. (1828).

Cyrtomium falcatum Sw. var. caryotideum (Wall, ex Hook, et Grev.) Bedd..

Handbook Fems Brit. India: 211, t. 106 (1883).

143

Rhizome short, erect, thick, covered with persistent leaf bases, densely

scaly. Stipes 10-40 cm long, light brown to stramineous, base dark brown, thick,

dia. c. 0.2 cm, sparsely scaly and flbrillose. base densely scaly; rachis fibrillose.

broad scales absent, fibrils more prominent at pinna-junctions. l amina 1- pinnate,

size variable, 20-50 cm long. 10-16 (-20) cm broad, oblong, base truncate, texture

sub-coriaceous to coriaceous, lower surface pale green, upper surface mid-green,

matt, sometimes with a purplish region around the midribs, glabrous; pinnae (2-) 5-

8 pairs, large, 11-14 cm long, 2-4 (-8) cm broad (at base), alternate, petiolate.

petiole decreasing in length in the upper pinnae, oblong-lanceolate, falcate, strongly

auriculate or bi-auriculate, acroscopic base extended into a long sharp auricle, the

basiscopic side rounded or obliquely truncate at base, sometimes the lowest pair

and always the terminal pinna (or segment) strongly auricled on both the sides at

their base, apex acuminate, margin strongly serrate, teeth acute, terminal pinna

generally the largest. Sori indusiate, large, round, many, somewhat randomly

scattered; indusia light brown, circular, large, peltate, flat, thin, more or less

caducous, glabrous, margin fimbriate. Spores brown, perinate.

Cytology: Triploid apomictic, 'n ’=123.

Sporulation: April - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Vietnam;

Philippines; Japan.

Ecology: Occasional, growing on moist shady rocks, from 1200-2200 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Lower Kishenganga Valley, Titwal, Dhani (R.R. Stewart);

Srinagar (Stokoe)\ Jhelum Valley.

Dryopteris Adanson, Fam. des Plantes 2: 20 (1763), nom. cons.

Type: Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott.

The genus comprises about 225 species (Fraser-Jenkins, 1986, 1989); 16

species and two hybrids are recorded from the area under investigation.

Key to the Species and Hybrids:

la. Lamina triangular-lanceolate, lowest pair o f pinnae generally the largest:

2a. Lamina 2- pinnate; pinnules symmetrical; usually only upper half o f the

frond fertile:

3a. Stipes very sparsely scaly; pinnules sm all........................ D. nigropaleacea

144

3b. Stipes scaly, at least in the middle; pinnules large................... D. stewartii

2b. Lamina 3- pinnate or 3- pinnatifid; pinnules asymmetrical; usually complete

frond fertile............................................................................................... D. ramosa

lb. Lamina lanceolate or ± narrowly triangular-lanceolate, lowest pair of pinnae

generally slightly reduced, or of the same size as the 2-3 pairs above;

4a. Lamina simple pinnate; pinnae margin shallowly lobed to the costa................

...................................................................................................................D. dickinsii

4b. Lamina deeply pinnatifid; pinnae margin deeply lobed to the costa:

5a. Stipe-scales not predominantly narrow, but widely ovate; lamina

herbaceous:

6a. Fronds turning brown at the end o f growing season; pinnules small,

margin lobed, narrowly and acutely toothed:

7a. Spores regular..................................................................... D. filix-mas

7b. Spores abortive..........................................................D. * macdonellii6b. Fronds turning pale yellow at the end o f growing season; pinnules

large, margin toothed.........................................................D. chrysocoma

5b. Stipe-scales predominantly, or all narrow; lamina coriaceous:

8a. Margin ofpinna-lobes shallowly or markedly lobed......D. blattfordii

8b. Margin o f pinna-lobes entire to sub-entire, but not lobed:

9a. Lamina triangular-lanceolate, base widely truncate; stipes half

the length o f the lamina:

10a. Stipe-base bearing ovate-lanceolate scales, extending up the

stipes, upper surface o f rachis deeply clothed with pale hair

like fibrils...................................................................D. edwardsii

10b. Stipe-base bearing all narrowly lanceolate scales, which

become linear further up the stipe, rachis clothed with linear

scales....................................................................... j). lepidopoda9b. Lamina lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, gradually tapering

towards a narrow base; stipes short, % the length o f the lamina:

11a. Mid and lower stipe-scales ovate to lanceolate:

12a. Rachis scales grey-brown to yellowish-brown...............

................................................................. D. redactopinnata

145

12b. Rachis scales black....................D. zayuensisl ib . Mid and lower stipe-scales lanceolate to narrowly

lanceolate:

13a. Fronds smaller (20-45*5-6 cm)...............D. xanthomelas

13b. Fronds large [35-60 (-120)x 14-18 cm):

14a. Lamina bearing numerous scattered fibrillae:

15a. Plants up to 120 cm long......... D. barbigera15b. Plants up to 45 cm long............D. komarovii

14b. Lamina without fibrillae:

16a. Stipes and rachis with few scales; lamina

cordate at base:

17a. Spores regular.........D. serrato-dentata17b. Spores abortive..............D. * liddarensis

16b. Stipes and rachis bearing many scales;

lamina tapering at base..........D. acutodentata

Dryopteris acutodentata Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 8: 432 (1938);

Dhir, Fem sN.W , Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 66 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian

Pterid.: 148 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 350

(1989); Chandra. Fems India: 169 (2000); Khullar. Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 274

(2000).

Nephrodium kingii Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 661, pi. 9 (1899).

Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott subsp. kingii (Hope) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 265

(1905), non Dryopteris kingii (Bedd.) C. Chr. (1905).

Fronds ± small (up to c. 45 cm long). Stipe ± long, up to c. Vi the length o f

the lamina, stipe-base densely scaly, the rest o f the stipe and the rachis less densely

scaly, stipe and rachis scales partially deciduous, especially on drying. Lamina

becoming 2- pinnate below, very narrowly triangular-lanceolate (up to c. 10 cm

wide), truncate at the base, and not, or only very slightly tapering downwards,

bearing many (up to c. 15 pairs), somewhat distant, markedly short pinnae; pinnae

triangular-lanceolate, slightly crispaceous, the upper surface slightly glossy, mid- to

dark green, under surface sparsely scaly, and bearing several (up to c. 8 pairs), ±

rectangular, usually somewhat crowded lobes, which are noticeably longer than

146

broad, the lowest pair or two pairs of lobes on lower pinnae being fully separated

into pinnules and somewhat slightly developed and longer on the basiscopic side of

the lower pinnae, the lowest pair of pinnules on the lowest pair of pinnae having a

narrow base or becoming fully stipitate, the others widely attached to the costae;

pinnules and pinna-lobes parallel-sided, ranging from unlobed to irregularly lobed

up to half the depth o f the pinnule on each side, the lobes bearing a few teeth,

pinnule-apices rounded-truncate or rounded, bearing long acute, often slightly

aristate teeth around the apex. Sori in two rows, one on either side o f the centre of

the pinnule or pinna-lobe, indusiate; indusia somewhat thick, becoming brown, and

lifting and shrivelling slightly, mostly deciduous. Spores irregular, with fully

formed and a minority o f abortive spores.

Cytology. Tripioid apomictic, ‘n’=123.


Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: A species o f the Himalayan scrub zone (above the forests), growing on the

ground beside rocks, from c. 3000-4000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Tragbal Pass, 3600 m (R.R. and ID . Slew art 4893, US).

Dryopteris barbigera (T. Moore ex Hook.) O. Ktze., Revis. Gen. PI. 2: 812 (1891);


Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 149 (1984); Dhir, Fcms N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 66 (1980); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5):

380 (1989); Chandra, Ferns India: 171 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem. FI. W. Himal. 2:

275 (2000). P la te - 2 3 (II).

Nephrodium barbigerum T. Moore ex Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 113 (1862); Clarke in

Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 522 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 14: 732(1903).

Lastrea barbigera (T. Moore ex Hook.) Bedd,, Ferns Brit. India 2: 227, pi. 227

(1867) and Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 246 (1883).

Nephrodium fa k o n eri Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 123, pi. 254 (1862).

Dryopteris barbigera \ar.falconeri (Hook.) Stewart in Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr.

Indian Pterid. Ferns Nepal: 118(1997).

147

Fronds medium-sized to large (up to c. 115 cm long), forming a basket from

a thick creeping rhizome with an ascendant apex. Stipe thick, long, c. 2A the length

of the lamina, very densely scaly; stipe and rachis somewhat densely furnished with

glands between the scales, as are the pinnae-costa and underside o f the lamina,

frond sweetly fragrant when young. Lamina markedly frost-sensitive and rapidly

becoming brown in autumn, 2- pinnate, becoming 3- pinnatifid below, ovate-

lanceolate (up to c. 30 cm wide), with a somewhat widely truncate base, and an

abruptly and obtusely tapering apex, bearing up to c. 25 pairs o f ± contiguous

pinnae; pinnae linear-lanceolate or linear, ending somewhat abruptly at their short

apices, herbaceous or slightly crispaceous, pale- to mid-green above, bearing many

(up to c. 20 pairs), medium-sized pinnules; pinnules narrow, markedly longer than

wide, narrowly attached or stalked towards the bases o f the pinnae, those nearer the

pinna-apices becoming widely attached, lanceolate, deeply lobed with small,

narrow, ± crowded lobes ending in a few long acute teeth, pinnule-apices rounded

or obliquely pointed, bearing numerous, usually markedly long, lanceolate teeth,

spread out in a fan-like arrangement and ending rather abruptly in narrow, aristate

tips. Sori small, usually well spaced-out, in two rows, one on each side midway

between the centre and margins of the pinnules, indusiate: indusia small, flat, thin,

shrivelling markedly and often mostly deciduous. Spores regular.


Sporulation'. August - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Tibet; Yunnan;

Nepal; Bhutan; Taiwan.

Ecology: A plant o f high-level meadows, often in the open, otherwise between

bushes, growing on the ground, from c. 3100-4500 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Apharwat, 3200 m (Fraser-Jenkins 6485, 6486, BM; 6490, PE);

Khillanmarg (R.R. Stewart 8642, 10645 teste Fraser-Jenkins; T.A. Rao 456, BSD);

Chatponsal Nallah, near Bajipath, north-east o f Pahalgam (E. W. Trotter, BM;

Fraser-Jenkins 7494, BM); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart); Lidder Valley (Maajed 408);

Sonamarg (R.R. Stewart); Chandanwari, 3000 m (K.K. Dhir); Anantnag; Pir Panjal

(R.R. Stewart); Rajdhan Pass, Gurez, 3600 m (Maajed 240, 251; Wadhwa 83802,

148

BSD); Hamag (R.R. Stewart); Donari Pass, 3340 m (J.C. McDonell, DD, K, P);

Mitsahoi (R.R. Stewart); Kamri Pass (R.R. Stewart): Zanskar.

Dryopteris blanfordii (Hope) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 254 (1905); Stewart in Nasir

and Ali. Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 12 (1972); Dhir. Fems N.W.

Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 68 (1980); Dixit. Cens . In d ia n Pterid.: 149

(1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. M us . Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 386 (1989); Nakaike

and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 337 (1993); Chandra, Ferns India: 172 (2000);

Khullar. Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 279 (2000). Plate - 24 (I).

Nephrodium blanfordii Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 624 (1899).

N. remotum Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 523 (1880).

Lastrea spinulosa var. remota (Clarke) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 252

(1883), pro parte.

Fronds large (up to c. 90 cm long). Stipe o f medium length, c. 'A to '/- the

length of the lamina, densely scaly. Lamina 2- pinnate to 3- pinnatifid, lanceolate to

somewhat narrowly lanceolate (up to c. 35 cm wide), slightly tapered below’ to a

somewhat truncate base, bearing many (up to c. 28 pairs), contiguous or slightly

distant pinnae; pinnae ± linear-lanceolate, becoming ± triangular-lanceolate below,

herbaceous, mid- or slightly darkish green and slightly glossy above, bearing

scattered, very small, hair-like, pale scales or Fibrillae. mainly on the lower surface

of the costae, bearing many (up to c. 20 pairs), medium-sized pinnules; pinnules

somewhat long, ± narrow, lanceolate, stalked at the very bases o f the pinnae, but

narrowly attached further up and becoming widely attached to the upper parts o f the

lamina to very deeply lobed, especially below; lower lobes in each pinnule

somewhat narrow, slightly distant, rectangular with truncate apices, each bearing an

acute tooth on the comer nearest the pinnule apex, but upper lobes (nearer the

pinnule-apex) becoming pointed and ending in a single, acute tooth, pinnule-apices

± acutely pointed (though more rounded-truncate in small plants), bearing acute

teeth around them, pinnules on the basiscopic side o f the lowest few pairs o f pinnae

usually developed and longer than those on the acroscopic side. Sori ± small, not

crowded, in two rows, one on each side midway between the centre and margins o f

the pinnule, though the larger basal lobes o f lower pinnae may themselves bear two

short rows o f about two sori each, indusiate; indusia slightly curved down at the

149

edges, ± thick, becom ing brown, shrivelling considerably, lifting and mostly

deciduous. Spores irregular, with fully formed and abortive spores.

Cytology: Tripioid apom iciic. ‘n '= l2 3 .



Ecology: A species o f the mid- and upper-level forest zone, but extending into the

alpine meadow zone, growing on the ground in forests or between rocks, from c.


Local Distribution: Mt. Apharwat, above Gulmarg, 2600 m (Fraser-Jenkins 6470-

6472, BM; 6470, 6472, 6479, PE; S.P. Khullar); Gulmarg. 2800 m (K.K. Dhir; S.P.

Khullar); Chatponsal Nallah. near Bajipath. Lidder Valley. 3400 m (Fraser-Jenkins

7514, 7515, BM); Pahalgam. 2200 m (K.K. Dhir: S.P. Khullar); Gund. Sonamarg to

Ganderbal (Fraser-Jenkins 7409, BM); Sonamarg (E.W. Trotter 33877. DD; S.P.

Khullar); Baltal, Sind Valley, 3100 m (G.A. Gammie s.n.. Acc. No. 16361, CAL);

Banihal Pass, 2440-2740 m (R.R. Stewart 12138, PE, RAW); Pir Panjal Range,

3200 m (G.A. Gammie s.n., Acc. No. 11529, CAL); Izmarg, Gurez (Maajed 261);

Gurez (Wadhwa 83970, BSD); Keran, Kishenganga Valley and road to Nanga

Parbat, c. 1830 m (R.R. Stewart 1771 It/, RAW); Koragbal. K ishenganga

Watershed, 2740 m (R.R. Stewart 22585, K, PE); Zanskar.

Dryopteris chrysocoma (Christ) C. Chr.. Index Fil. 1: 257 (1905); Stewart in Nasir

and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PL W. Pak. and Kashmir: 12 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W.


(1984), pro parte ; Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 371

(1989); Chandra, Ferns India: 173 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 284

(2000 ).

Aspidium filix~mas Sw. var. chrysocomum Christ in Bull. Herb. Boiss. 6: 966

(1898).

Nephrodium filix-mas Rich. var. schimperiana sensu Clarke (1880); Bedd. (1892);

Hope (1903), non Dryopteris schimperiana (Hoechst ex A. Braun) C. Chr.

Dryopteris macrocarpa Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 406 (1945).

Fronds medium to large (up to c. 120 cm long), ± upright or often hanging

over rocks. Stipe thick, o f medium length, c. % to 'A the length o f the lamina,

150

sparsely glandular, smooth, pale, densely scaly, scales becoming sparse further up

the rachis. Lamina becoming 2- pinnate below, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate

(up to c. 27 cm wide), only very slightly tapered to a truncate base, bearing up to c.

25 pairs of separate pinnae; pinnae ± linear, thickly herbaceous, pale green and matt

above, sparsely glandular, bearing up to c. 15 pairs o f somewhat large lobes or

pinnules; pinna-lobes jointed at their widely attached bases by a narrow wing o f

tissue, except towards the bases of the pinnae where they become separated into

pinnules, lanceolate (parallel-sided and ± rectangular in young plants), longer than

broad, usually with rounded lobes at the sides in large plants, pinnule-apices

rounded or obtusely pointed, bearing wide, obtusely pointed teeth around the apex.

Sori large, positioned in two short lines midw'ay between the margins and centre o f

the lobes, and usually absent from the tips o f the lobes, indusiate; indusia thick and

fleshy, white, with dark colour o f the sporangia showing through, grey, becoming

brown later, markedly tall, inflected at the edges and surrounding the sporangia

even when ripe, persistent and not lifting or shrivelling. Spores regular, dark

chestnut-brown, very large.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan: China; Tibet: Nepal; Bhutan; N.

Burma; Philippines.

Ecology. A species of mid-level forest belt, growing in open places, in moss beside

boulders, in rock crevices or at roadsides, from c. 1900-3500 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam (Fraser-Jenkins); Pir Panjal (Fraser-Jenkins);

Zanskar (Watt 5254, K).

Dryopteris dickinsii (Franch. et Savat.) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 262 (1905); Fras.-

Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 337 (1989); Chandra, Fems India: 175

(2000); Khullar, Ulus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 293 (2000).

Aspidium dickinsii Franch. et Savat., Enum. PI. Jap. 2: 236 (1877).

A. thibeticum Franch. in Nouv. Archs. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris II 10: 118 (1887).

Lastrea thibetica (Franch.) Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India Suppl.: 52 (1892).

Dryopteris basiaurita Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 8: 405 (1938);


151

Fronds medium-sized or somewhat small (up to c. 80 cm long). Stipe-base

c. '/< the length of the lamina, stipe-base scaly, scales become scattered and smaller

further up and on the rachis. Lamina 1- pinnate, narrow (up to c. 20 cm wide),

bearing rather few (up to c. 20 pairs), somewhat short pinnae of medium width and

spacing; pinnae herbaceous, almost slightly succulent. = pale green above,

markedly glabrous and smooth-textured, with noticeably darker coloured and often

somewhat impressed veins especially on the underside in the lower sterile pinnae,

the pinna-bases frequently slightly widened into auricles on one or both sides, the

rest of the pinnae varying from almost unlobed to bearing deep, rectangular or

somewhat extended, rounded lobes with narrowed, ± truncate apices, with one or

more small teeth mainly on the dorsal side. Sori distinct in being positioned in a

more or less narrow belt away from the pinnae-costa on either side, not far from the

edge, or becoming arranged in loops around the lobes, when they may reach the

pinnae-costa, indusiate; indusia small, very thin, scarious, shrivelling markedly at

maturity, many, but not all, dropping off. Spores irregular, with fully formed and

minority o f abortive spores.

Cytology: Diploid apomictic, ‘n’=82.

Sporulation: March - June.

Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Taiwan; Japan.

Ecology: A species o f lower mid-level forests, growing on the ground, from c.


Local Distribution: Tangdur Forest, Ghantamula, Baramulla, 1620 m (J.C.

McDonell, K, P); Lolab Valley, 1830 m, north o f Jhelum (Wroughton 595312. US).

Dryopteris edwardsii Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 138

(1997); Chandra, Fems India: 176 (2000).

D. yigongensis Ching et S.K. Wu in Wu, FI. Xizang. 1: 253 (1983); Fras.-Jenk. in

Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 348 (1989); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI.

Pakistan 1: 277 (1992); Khullar, Ulus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 351 (2000).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, scaly. Stipes long, sparsely scaly and fibrillose,

densely scaly at base; scales broad, ovate or linear-lanceolate, margin toothed,

fibrils long, hair-like, light brown, margin toothed; rachis stramineous, sparsely

scaly and fibrillose, scales and fibrils as on stipe. Lamina 1-2- pinnate, lanceolate,

152

texture herbaceous, both surfaces fibrillose; fibrils long, light brown; basal pinnules

on each lower pinnae more elongated than those on the upper side. Sori indusiate,

small, round, sub-medial; indusia brown, reniform, small, thin. Spores large, dark

brown.

Cytology: Tripioid apomictic, ‘n'=123.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan: S. China; Nepal.

Ecology: A species o f upper-level forest zone, growing on the ground, from c.


Local Distribution: Gulmarg, 2700 m (S.P. Khullar 5439, PAN teste Fraser-

Jenkins); Tangmarg, Ferozepur Nallah (Anonymous 10595, I.WG teste Fraser-

Jenkins); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart, RAW teste Fraser-Jenkins).

Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott, Gen. Fil. 1: 9 (1834): Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot.

Club 72: 405 (1945); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 150 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull.

Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 375 (1989); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI.

Pakistan 2: 338 (1993); Chandra, Fems India: 176 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI.

W. Himal. 2: 295 (2000).

Polypodium filix-mas L., Sp. PI. 2: 1090 (1753).

Nephrodium filix-mas (L.) Richd. in Marthe, Cat. J. and Med. Paris: 129 (1801);

Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1:519 (1880): Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 14: 727(1903).

Lastreafilix-mas Presl, Tent. Pterid.: 76 (1836); Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India:

248 (1883), pro parte.

Dryopteris oreades Stewart in Nasir and Ali. Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and

Kashmir: 12 (1972), non Fomin (1910).

Fronds medium to large (up to c. 85 cm long). Stipe ± thick and short, c. l/<

to Vi the length o f the lamina, the base densely scaly, scales becoming slightly

smaller and slightly more scattered further up on the stipe and on the rachis. Lamina

2- pinnate, ± narrowly lanceolate (up to c. 25 cm wide), tapered slightly towards the

slightly truncate base, bearing up to c. 27 pairs o f ± contiguous pinnae; pinnae

linear-lanceolate, herbaceous, pale- to mid-green above, ± glabrous, apart from a

few small, scattered, very narrow or almost hair-like, pale scales on the costae,

153

bearing many (up to c. 20 pairs), somewhat small pinnules: pinnules ± short, longer

than broad, widely attached to the costa and those near the tips of the pinnae

becoming fused together at their bases by a narrow wing o f tissue, but those at the

bases of the lower pinnae becoming narrowly attached or stalked. ± crowded,

somewhat parallel-sided near their bases, but tapering above, very shallowly lobed

with ± pointed lobes in the distal part o f the pinnules, each lobe ending in an acute

tooth, pinnule-apices ranging from rounded to obtusely pointed and bearing

somewhat long, acute teeth. Sori small, not crowded, in two rows, one on each side

of the centre o f the pinnule midway between the centre and the margins, indusiate;

indusia slightly curved down at the edges, thin, shrivelling to about half their size

and lifting, mostly deciduous later in the season. Spores regular.

Cytology: Tctraploid sexual, n- 82.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Iran: Kazakhstan; W.

Asia; China; Russia; N.W. Africa; Europe; Greenland; N. America: S. America.

Ecology: A species o f open, rocky areas and roadsides above the forest zone,

growing beside rocks, from c. 2700-3900 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg, 2740-3040 m (G.A. Gammie, B): Sonamarg. 2740 m

(R.R. Stewart 22391, PE, RAW); Meenamarg, east side o f Zoji La (Fraser-Jenkins

6518, BM); Ascent, Rajdhan Pass, Kishenganga Valley, 3040 m (R.R. Stewart

19304, CAL, RAW; 19189, CAL).

Dryopteris komarovii Koss. in Bot. Mat. Gerb. Cilavn. Bot. Sada 2: 1 (1921); Fras.-

Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 113 (1997); Chandra. Fems

India: 180 (2000); Khullar, Ulus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 305 (2000).

D. barbigera (T. Moore ex Hook.) O. Ktze. subsp. komarovii (Koss.) Fras.-Jenk. in

Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 384 (1989).

Fronds small (up to c. 45 cm long), arising from a much branched, tufted

rhizome, thus forming a clump. Stipe usually somewhat short, c. '/? the length o f the

lamina, with paler scales. Lamina 1-2- pinnate, ± small, 20-30 cm long, narrow, 6-

13 cm broad (at base), narrowly lanceolate, texture herbaceous, apex gradually

tapering, acute, both surfaces scaly, blue-green above, whitish-green below; pinnae

few, c. 15 pairs, 3-6 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad, triangular-lanceolate, separate.

154

sloping, alternate, sessile, margin deeply lobed to the costa, or becoming pinnate,

lower pinnae the largest or slightly smaller than the pair above; pinnules (or lobes)

6-8 pairs, short, 0.5-1.5 cm long. 0.4-0.5 cm broad (at base), ovate-oblong, sub

opposite to alternate, sessile, lower pinnules with an acute base, upper ones with

truncate base, apex acute or rounded, margin shallowly lobed or serrate-dentate,

with long teeth radiating along their apices; veins 5-6 pairs per pinnule, in groups of

2-3 corresponding to the pinnule-lobes. mostly forked: costae and costules densely

scaly and fibrillose. Sori indusiate, small, round, sub-medial, close to the costa, 5-6

pairs in a single row on either side o f the costule; indusia brown, reniform, small,

persistent, glabrous. Spores brown, perinatc.



Geographical Distribution: India; N. Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan;

Burma; Taiwan; Russia.

Ecology: A plant o f somewhat dry, high-level, open rocky places, growing between

rocks, beside boulders or in rock crevices, from c. 3100-4800 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam, enroute Kolahoi, 3640 m (Dickason 1420, MICH):

Baltal, Sind Valley (J.F. Duthie 11613, DD); Meenamarg, east side o f Zoji La,

3250 m (Fraser-Jenkins 6513, 6514, 7450, BM; 6517, PE); Fras Nag, Pir Panjal

(R.R. Stewart 23238, PE); Kishenganga Valley, road to Nanga Parbat, Kamri Pass

(R.R. Stewart, RAW; 18115, E; 18715, CAL); Daman Pass.

Dryopteris lepidopoda Hay., Icon. PI. Formos. 4: 161 (1914); Dixit, Cens. Indian

Pterid.: 151 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 352

(1989); Chandra, Fems India: 180 (2000); Khullar. Ulus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 308

(2000 ).

Nephrodium filix-mas Rich. var. khasiana Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1 :519(1880).

N. parallelogrammum Hope forma khasiana (Clarke) Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 14: 729(1903).

Fronds large (up to c. 120 cm long), spreading. Stipe somewhat thin, very

long, Vi to about the same length as the lamina, stipe-base densely scaly, very rarely

a few slightly wider scales extending up to half the length o f the stipe (in half

155

buried plants). Lamina 2- pinnate below, elongated triangular-lanccolatc or

lanceolate (up to c. 30 cm wide), untapered or very slightly tapered to a widely

truncate base, bearing many (up to c. 35 pairs), ± contiguous, narrow, regular

pinnae; pinnae mostly linear, except for the lowest ones in more foliosc plants

which may become somewhat developed on their basiscopic side, noticeably

coriaceous or slightly crispaceous, the upper surface somewhat glossy and mid

green (pinkish-yellow when young), fibrillose, bearing numerous (up to c. 25 pairs),

regular, small to medium-sized, rectangular lobes, which often become somewhat

longer and developed on the basiscopic side o f the lowest few pinnae, but the

lowest pair o f pinnules on the lowest pair o f pinnae normally reduced in size,

jointed only at their bases and becoming separated into pinnules at the bases o f the

lower pinnae, but lowest pair of pinnules on the lowest pair o f pinnae very narrowly

attached to the costa or nearly stipitatc; pinnules markedly parallel-sided and

usually unlobed except when the basiscopic ones in lower pinnae are well-

developed, in which case they are often shallowly lobed at the sides with

rectangular lobes, pinnulc-apices ranging from rounded-truncate to obtusely

pointed, the latter condition more frequent in the lower pinnae when the lowest

basiscopic pinnules are extended, bearing very regular, small, narrowly triangular-

lanceolate and somewhat stiff, acute teeth. Sori in two rows, one on either side of

the centre of the pinnule, indusiate; indusial thick, becoming brown, lifting and

shrivelling slightly, but mostly persistent. Spores irregular, with fully formed and a

minority o f abortive spores.

Cytology: Diploid apomictic, ln ’=82,


Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Taiwan.

Ecology: A species o f mid-level forests, growing on the ground, from c. 1300-3000

m altitude.

local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 38).

Dryopteris * liddarensis Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 460

(1989); Chandra, Fems India: 193 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem. FI. W. Himal. 2: 358

(2000).

(=D. barbigera * D. serrato-dentata).

156

Intermediate in morphology between the parents, though more similar in

size to D. serrato-dentata, probably due to immaturity or adverse growing

conditions. Stipes thin, more densely clothed in scales than in D. serrato-dentata,

but less densely than in D. barbigera. Pinnae short and pinna-lobes more

rectangular than in D. barbigera, but bearing long teeth, similar to those in D

barbigera. Spores abortive.

Geographical Distribution'. India, so far known only from a single collection.

Ecology: A rare fern o f high altitudes, growing in crevices o f non-calcareous, west

facing cliffs at 3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Pahalgam, Lidder Valley near Bajipath, east side of upper

Chatponsal Nallah. 3400 m (Fraser-Jenkins 7519. BM-holotype).

Dryopteris * macdonellii Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 464

(1989); Chandra, Fems India: 194 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 358

(2000).

(=D. filix-mas x D. ramosa).

Stipes long, scaly; scales at base large, wide, matt, pale brown, a few with a

dark ccntral basal region. Lamina large, with ± wide base; pinnae widest in the

middle; pinnules somewhat long, incised at the sides with ± pointed lobes and the

sides sloping towards the acutely pointed pinnule-apices. Spores abortive.

The hybrid is intermediate in morphology between D. filix-mas and D.

ramosa. Large well-developed plants o f D. blanfordii which may occasionally have

unusually pale scales can appear to be similar to D. * macdonellii, but the pinnules

of the hybrid are not so coarsely incised. The basal pinnules are longer and more

deeply incised and its spores are mostly good when ripe.

Geographical Distribution: N. India; Pakistan.

Ecology: Rare, growing in open places among low bushes, at 2130 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Chorwan, Gurez, North Kashmir Valley (R.R. Stewart 18602,

RAW); Donari, 7,000 ft (J.C. McDonell, K-holotype).

Dryopteris nigropaleacea (Fras.-Jenk.) Fras.-Jenk. in Bolm. Soc. Brot. II 55: 238

(1982) and in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 396 (1989); Nakaike and

Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 338 (1993); Chandra, Fems India: 181 (2000);

Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2 :314 (2000). P la te - 24 (II).

157

Dryopteris pallida (Bony) C. Chr. apud Maire et Petitm. subsp. nigropaleacea

Fras.-Jenk. in Candollea 32(2): 316 (1977).

Nephrodium filix-mas Rich. var. normalis Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1: 519 (1880), pro parte.

Lastrea rigida sensu Bedd., Handbook Ferns Bril. India: 251 (1883).

Dryopteris pallida sensu Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak.

and Kashmir: 13 (1972).

Fronds medium-sized (up to c. 90 cm long). Stipe long. e. /i to 2/> the length

of the lamina, the base o f stipe densely scaly, scales rapidly becoming very

scattered, smaller and narrower further up the stipe; the rachis being nearly devoid

of scales, except for a few small, very scattered, very narrow, usually pale ones.

Lamina 2- pinnate, elongated triangular-lanceolate (up to c. 30 cm wide), not

tapered below, bearing up to c. 20 pairs of ± contiguous pinnae; pinnae with a dark-

coloured patch on the costa at the point o f attachment o f the rachis, elongated

triangular-lanceolate, crispaceous, somewhat bluish-green above when living and

glaucous below, ± matt, ± glabrous, bearing many (up to c. 18 pairs), somewhat

small to medium-sized pinnules; pinnules somewhat long, ± narrow, stalked or with

a narrow point o f attachment to the pinna-costae except towards the tips o f the

pinnae where they become widely attached, not crowded, ± parallel-sided, ranging

from unlobed to ± deeply lobed; lobes ± narrow, rectangular, usually with rounded-

truncate apices, bearing a few insignificant, acute teeth, pinnule-apices ranging

from rounded to acutely pointed, bearing acute teeth. Sori small, not crowded, in

two rows, one on each side midway between the centre and the margins o f the

pinnules, indusiate; indusia slightly curved down at the edges, ± thin, shrivelling

markedly and often deciduous. Spores regular.




Ecology: A species o f the mid-level forest zone, growing on the ground, usually in

light forest, from c. 1300-2600 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (S. P. Khullar 376, c, PAN; Fraser-Jenkins); Shrenz,

Babareshi {Maajed 136, 140, 150, 170, 174 etc.); Wagoora, Baramulla (M aajed02,

158

11, 24, 394); Pahalgam (Fraser-Jenkins)', Aru, Pahalgam (Maajed 371); Gund,

south side o f Sind Valley. 2400 m (Fraser-Jenkins 6554. BM); Sonamarg (Fraser-

Jenkins); Titwal to Surkhala, Kishenganga Valley (R.R. Stewart, RAW).

Dryopteris ramosa (Hope) C. Chr., Index Fil. 1: 287 (1905); Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72; 406 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali. Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W.

Pak. and Kashmir; 13 (1972); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1;

69 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.; 152 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus.

Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5); 425 (1989); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 339

(1993); Chandra, Ferns India: 184 (2000); Khullar. Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 321

(2000). P la te - 25 (I).

Nephrodium ramosum Hope in J. Bot. (London) 34: 126 (1896) and in J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 14:739 (1903).

Fronds large or very large (up to c. 100 cm long), two or three fronds arising

from the apex of a markedly long, prostate, underground, rhizome, densely

surrounded with leaf bases. Stipe long. c. Zi the length o f the lamina, thick, base of

stipe densely scaly, but the scales becoming smaller and less dense further up the

stipe so that the upper stipe and lower rachis bear scattered, small, lanceolate scales.

Lamina 3- pinnate, widely triangular-lanceolate or ± deltate (up to c. 50 cm wide),

not tapered below, bearing up to c. 25 pairs o f contiguous pinnae; pinnae triangular-

lanceolate, thin, herbaceous, pale green above with matt upper surface, ± glabrous,

exccpt for a few scattered, small, very narrow, hair-like, pale scales on the costae

below, bearing up to c. 25 pairs o f large pinnules; pinnules long, narrowly

triangular-lanceolate, stalked, pinnatisect, but becoming deeply pinnatifid in the

upper part o f the lamina, pinnule-apices long and acutely pointed, bearing

prominent, fine, acute teeth, pinnules on the basiscopic side o f the pinnae in the

lower half o f the frond becoming well-developed and longer than those on the

acroscopic side, very markedly so in the lowest pair o f the pinnae; pinnules or lobes

small, ovate-lanceolate, with ± acutely pointed apices, bearing prominent, fine,

acute teeth around them, the pinnulets in the lowest pinnules o f lower pinnae

themselves bearing lobes at the sides. Sori small, not crowded, in two rows, one on

each side o f the centre o f the pinnule or pinnulet, midway between the centre and

150

the margins, indusiate; indusia small, flat, very thin, shrivelling markedly and soon

dropping o ff when the spores ripen. Spores regular.

Cytology: Diploid sexual. n = 4 l.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Nepal.

Ecology: A species o f the mid- and upper level forest zones, growing on the ground

in rich forest, from c. 2000-4000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: W agoora. Baramulla (Maajed 05-07. 20-23. 29-34 etc ):

Shrenz, Babareshi (Maajed 164. 175a); Khillanmarg (R.R. Stewart 10401a);

Gulmarg (Hajru 73646. BSD; J.F. Duthie 11208, CAL; T ( \ Mittal 1135. 1136,

1139, 1141. 3093-3096. PAN: K.K. Dhir): Lolab. Andrbug. 2130 m (R.W. Macleod.

RAW); Gund, Sonamarg to Ganderbal (Fraser-Jenkins 6550. BM); M eenamarg,

east side o f Zoji La, 3350 m (Fraser-Jenkins 7449, BM); Aherbal (T.A. Rao 9266.

BSD); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart 5725; T.C. Mittal 1137, PAN; 77, BM; K.K. Dhir);

Kolahoi, 3000 m (K.K. Dhir); Amamath, 3300 m (K.K. Dhir); Sukh Nallah, 4,000-

12,000 ft (J.F. Duthie 11677); Banihal Pass, 2440 m (R.R. Stewart 140986. PE);

Kishenganga Valley (IVadhwa 85071. BSD); Barnai, Gurez (IVadhwa, Murthi and

Pant 85073. BSD); Dras.

Dryopteris redactopinnata Basu et Panigr. in Indian J. Forestry 3: 270 (1980);

Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 153 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.

(Bot.) 18(5): 346 (1989); Nakaike and Malik. Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 339 (1993);


D. pseudofibrillosa Ching in C.Y. Wu, FI. Xizangica 1: 252 (1983).

Fronds medium-sized to large (up to c. 100 cm long), forming almost

perfect shuttlecocks. Stipe short, up to c. V* the length o f the lamina, stipe-base very

densely scaly; rachis densely clothed in long, narrowly lanceolate scales,

intermixed with some very narrow, hair-like ones. Lamina 1- pinnate, 2- pinnatifid.

nearly becoming 2- pinnate at the bases o f the lower-middle pinnae, narrowly

lanceolate (up to c. 25 cm wide), gradually tapering towards a markedly narrow

base, bearing many (up to c. 40 pairs), ± contiguous, narrow, regular pinnae; pinnae

linear, slightly coriaceous, the upper surface slightly glossy and mid-green (yellow-

green when young), bearing small, scattered, very narrow, hair-like, pale brown

160

fibrils on the costae, costules, surfaces and edges, though these are mostly

deciduous as the frond ages, pinnae bearing numerous (up to c. 20 pairs), highly

regular, crowded, small, rectangular lobes, and not becoming developed on the

basiscopic side o f the lower pinnae; pinna-lobes joined only at their bases,

markedly parallel-sided, apart from a basal auriclc on the basiscopic side o f the

basal pair of lobes on each pinna, occasionally bearing small lobes at the sides

towards their apices in the mid-upper parts o f the frond, pinna-lobe apices ranging

from markedly truncatc to rounded-truncate, bearing a few small, acute crenations

or teelh. Sori in two rows, one on either side o f the centre o f the pinna-lobe,

indusiate; indusia thick, becoming brown, lifting and shrivelling slightly, but mostly

persistent. Spores irregular.

Cytology: Diploid apomictic, "n’=82.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Taiwan.

Ecology: A species o f upper-level forest zone, growing on the ground, from c.


Local Distribution: Gulmarg, 2135 m (G.A. Gammie 16268, CAL-holotype; 16267,

CAL-isotypc); Lolab Valley, Andrbug (R.W. Macleod, RAW); Pahalgam (T.C.

Mittal 3098, PAN); Fras Nag, Pir Panjal, 2440-3040 m (R.R. Stewart 23210, PE,

RAW); Keran, Kishenganga Valley, 2000 m (R.R. Stewart 17624, CAL).

Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Bedd.) Hay., Icon PI. Formos. 4; 179, t. 116 (1914);



Pteridologica 1: 65 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 153 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in

Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 377 (1989); Chandra, Fems India: 186

(2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W. Himal. 2: 327 (2000).

Lastreafilix-mas Pr. var. serrato-dentata Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India Suppl.:

55 (1892).

Nephrodium odontoloma (Bedd.) Clarke sensu Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London

II (Bot.) 1:521 (1880).

jV, serrato-dentatum (Bedd.) Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 622 (1899).

161

Fronds somewhat delicate, small (up to c. 60 cm long), arising in a group or

small basket from the rhizome apex. Stipe thin, long, about the same length as or

longer than the lamina, base of stipe densely scaly, scales becoming very scattered,

small and narrow further up and on the rachis where they become almost hair-like;

stipe, rachis and pinna-costae furnished with ± scattered glands, which give the

frond a sweet scent when young. Lamina fragile, 2- pinnate, triangular-lanceolate or

occasionally elongate-triangular (up to c. 15 cm wide), not tapered towards the

base, bearing few (up to c. 12 pairs), ± contiguous pinnae; pinnae elongated

triangular-lanceolate, herbaceous or often slightly crispaceous. pale- to mid-green

above, ± glabrous, bearing rather few (up to c. 16 pairs), ± small pinnules; pinnules

short, widely attached to the costa, those in the upper part o f the pinna becoming

fused together at their bases by a narrow wing o f tissue, but those at the bases o f the

lowest few pinnae becoming narrowly attached or stalked, usually crowded, though

they become separate in larger plants, ± rectangular with parallel sides, lobed or

unlobed, the lobes ± truncate and bearing a few long acute teeth, pinnule-apices

ranging from truncate to rounded, bearing long-acute, ± splayed-out teeth. Sori

somewhat small, not crowded, in two rows, one on each side midway between the

centre and margins of the pinnules, indusiate; indusia ± small, flat, thin, with jagged

edges, shrivelling markedly and usually deciduous. Spores regular.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Burma;

Taiwan.

Ecology: A species o f high-levels, growing in crevices, among open rocks or rarely

on the ground, from c. 3100-5000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Chatponsal Nallah, near Bajipath, Lidder Valley 3400 m (J.F.

Duthie 13221, DD; Fraser-Jenkins 7477, 7479, PE; 7478, 7480-7488, H; 7480,

7484, BM); Lidder Valley (R.R. Stewart, DD); Sind Valley.

Dryopteris stewartii Fras.-Jenk. in Kalikasan Philip. J. Biol. 7: 272 (1978) and Bull.

Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 398 (1989); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI.

Pakistan 2: 340 (1993); Chandra, Fems India: 188 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI.

W. Himal. 2: 333 (2000). P la te - 2 5 (II).

162

Dryopteris odontoloma (Bedd.) C. Chr. forma brevifolia Mehra et Khullar in Res.

Bull. Panjab Univ. II 25: 147 [1974] (1980), nom. inval.

Fronds large (up to c. 110 cm long). Stipe long, up to c. '/> the length o f the

lamina, base o f stipe densely scaly, scales becoming more scattered and smaller

further up the stipe; rachis bearing scattered, very small, mid- to dark brovvn.

lanceolate scales, mainly near its base. Lamina 2- pinnate, 3- pinnatifid below,

slightly elongated triangular-lanceolate (up to c. 36 cm wide), not tapered below,

bearing up to c. 20 pairs o f contiguous or slightly overlapping pinnae; pinnae

elongated, triangular-lanceolate, herbaceous, pale- to mid-green and ± glabrous

above, bearing many (up to c. 18 pairs), large pinnules; pinnules long, stalked or

with a narrow point o f attachment to the pinna-costae except near the tips o f the

pinnae where they become widely attached, somewhat crowded. ± parallel-sided,

ranging from very shallowly lobed to markedly and deeply lobed, lobes crowded, ±

rectangular with rounded-truncate apices, bearing several acute teeth, pinnule-

apices acutcly pointed and often somewhat long-pointed, bearing acute teeth, the

pinnules on the basiscopic side o f the lower few pinnae often somewhat developed

when compared with those on the acroscopic side. Sori small, not crowded, in two

rows, on each side midway between the centre and margins o f the pinnules, the

lobes in the lower pinnules often bearing two short rows o f sori. indusiate; indusia ±

flat or slightly curved down at the edges, but the edges not tightly adpressed to the

sorus, ± thin, shrivelling markedly and mostly deciduous. Spores irregular, with

fully formed and abortive spores.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; Nepal.

Ecology: A species o f mid- and upper-level forest zone, growing on the ground in

the forest or in open places at roadsides etc., from c. 1700-3300 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 39, 54-56, 127, 345 etc.); Shrenz,

Babareshi (Maajed 130); Mt. Apharwat, above Gulmarg, 2600 m (Fraser-Jenkins

6466, BM; 6488, PE); Dachigam (R.R. Rao and Kumar 83535, BSD); Srinagar,

1800 m (G.A. Gammie s . n Acc. No. 16355, CAL); Pahalgam; Aherbal (T.A. Rao

9272, BSD); Prang, near Sonamarg (V.L. Shrestha 145, KATH); Gund, Sonamarg

163

to Ganderbal, 2400 m (Fraser-Jenkins 7427, 7428, BM; 7427-7429, H; 7426, PE);

Banihal (T.A. Rao 7660. BSD); Chorwan. Gure/ (Maajed 252)', Ladakh.

Dryopteris xanthometas (Christ) C. Chr., Index Fil. Suppl. 1: 41 (1913); Nakaike

and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 1: 277 (1992) and 2: 340 (1993); Chandra, Ferns

India: 192(2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 347(2000). P la te - 2 6 (I).

Aspidium xanthomelas Christ in Bull. Gcogr. Bot. Mans.: 117 (1906).

Nephrodium fdix-mas Rich. var. fibrillosa Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc. London II

(Bot.) 1:520. pi. 70 (1880).

Lastrea fdix-mas Pr. var. parallelogramma subvar. fibrillosa (Clarke) Bedd..

Handbook Fems Brit. India: 250 (1883).

Dryopteris pulcherrima Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 8: 422 (1938);

Fras.-Jenk. in Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.) 18(5): 342 (1989).

D. sinofsbrillosa Ching in Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. (Bot.) 10: 180 (1940): Stewart

in Nasir and Ali, Arrnot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 13 (1972).

D. rosthornii sensu Stewart in Bull. Torrcy Bot. Club 72: 404 (1945), non Diels.

Fronds somewhat small (normally up to c. 70 cm long), forming perfect

shuttlecocks. Stipe up to c. V5 the length o f the lamina, scaly: rachis densely scaly

and fibrillose. Lamina 1- pinnate. 2- pinnatifid, nearly becoming 2- pinnate at the

bases o f the lower-middle pinnae, narrow (up to c. 15 cm w'ide), gradually tapering

towards a markedly narrow but slightly truncate base, bearing many (up to c. 35

pairs), ± contiguous, short, narrow, regular pinnae; pinnae linear, herbaceous or

slightly coriaceous, upper surface dark green and slightly glossy, but bearing rather

numerous small, scattered, narrowly hair-like, pale brown scales or fibrillae on the

costae, costules, surfaces and edges, though these are semi-dcciduous as the frond

ages, virtually glabrous plants may rarely occur, pinnae bearing numerous (up to c.

20 pairs), regular, small, mostly rectangular lobes, which remain undeveloped on

the basiscopic sides o f the lower pinnae; pinna-lobes joined only at their bases,

markedly parallel-sided, though occasionally bearing small lobes at the sides,

towards their apices, in the mid and upper parts o f the frond, pinna-lobe apices

ranging from markedly truncate to rounded-truncate or occasionally somewhat

rounded-pointed (mainly in the upper part o f the frond), bearing numerous small,

acute crenations or teeth arranged about the apex (at least in the upper part o f the

164

frond). Sori in two rows, one on either side o f the centre o f the pinna-lobe,

indusiate; indusia thick, becoming brown, lifting and shrivelling slightly, but mostly

persistent. Spores irregular, with full formed and a minority o f abortive spores.

Cytology. Diploid apomictic, 'n ’r 82.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; W. China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology. A species o f the upper-level forest and scrub zones, growing on the

ground, from c. 2000-4000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Kalantra. Baramulla (Maajed 104); Gulmarg. 2700 m (Maajed

106, 363); near Pahalgam 2130-2440 m [R.R. Stewart, 21706, K, PE); Meenamarg,

east side o f Zoji La, 3250 m (I'Vaser-Jenkins 6522, BM); Lidder Valley; Lolab

Valley, Andrbug (Macleod, P); Sonamarg, 11,000 ft (Clarke 30819A, K); Sind

Valley; Banihal.

Common Name: Shuttlecock Fern (English).

Dryopteris zayuettsis Ching et S.K. Wu in C.Y. Wu, FI. Xizangica 1: 255 (1983);

Fras.-Jenk., New Sp. Syndr. Indian Pterid. Fems Nepal: 342 (1997); Khullar, Illus.

Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 357 (2000).

D. squamifera Ching et S.K. Wu in C.Y. Wu, FI. Xizangica 1: 250 (1983).

D incisolobata Ching in C.Y. Wu, FI. Xizangica 1: 249 (1983).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, scaly. Stipes long, markedly densely scaly and

fibrillose; scales all black, large, lanceolate or ovate; rachis densely scaly, similar to

the stipe, upper stipe and lower- to mid-rachis bearing very dense all black scales.

Lamina 1-2- pinnate, large (c. 40 cm long), 15 cm broad, lanceolate, very markedly

tapering to a narrow base, herbaceous; pinnae 15 pairs. 6-10 cm long, up to 1.5-2.5

cm broad, margin deeply lobed to the costa or becoming pinnate; pinnules (or

lobes) c. 10 pairs, 1.2-2.0 cm long, 0.5 cm broad, apex rounded, margins almost

entire. Sori indusiate, small, medial, 3-4 pairs per pinnule (or lobe), in a single row

on either side o f the costa; indusia round to reniform, persistent. Spores small.

Sporulation: A ugust-Sep tem ber.

Geographical Distribution: India; China; Tibet; Nepal.

Ecology: Occasional, growing in mid-high altitude regions.

Local Distribution: Tangmarg, Ferozepur Nallah (Anonymous, LWG).

165

Doubtful/Excluded Taxa:Dryopteris odontoloma (T. Moore) C. Chr.: Reported by Stewart (1972) to be

common in Kashmir. However, true D. odontoloma is confined to South India

(Niigiri Hills). The plants named as D. odontoloma from the West Himalaya arc

either D. stewartii, D. jiixtaposita or more usually D. nigropaleacea (Khullar,

2000).

Mehra and Khullar (1980) reported a tripioid 'D. odontoloma" from

Kashmir, which they assumed to be the same as the East Himalayan tripioid (i.e. D.

juxtaposita). However, their specimens (in PAN) are D. stewartii (Fraser-Jenkins.

1989).

Dryopteris oreades Fomin: This fem was reported from Sonamarg. Kashmir by

Stewart (1972). However, Fraser-Jenkins (1989) found that the specimens reported

were not that species, but D. filix-mas.

Dryopteris wallicltiana (Spreng.) Hyland.: Reported by Stewart (1972) and

followed by Khullar and Sharma (1987) from Fras Nag. Pir Panjal Range in

Kashmir. The specimen cited by Stewart (R.R. Stewart 23210, PE, RAW) has now

been re-identified as D. redactopinnata.

D. yigongensis Ching: Khullar (2000) reported this fem in error for D. edwardsii

from Kashmir.

Polysticltum Roth, Tent. FI. Germ. 3: 31, 69 (1799), nom. cons.

Type: Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth.

The genus is represented by 23 species in the West Himalaya; 12 are


Key to the Species:

la. Lamina 1- pinnate; pinna-margin shallowly lobed:

2a. Plants small, fragile, texture herbaceous........................................ P. lachettense

2b. Plants large, texture coriaceous or sub-coriaceous...........................P. lonchitis

lb. Lamina sub-2- pinnate or pinnatifid; pinna-margin deeply lobed:

3a, Lamina sub-2- pinnate; pinnae with few pinnules:

4a. Lamina small, narrow (1.5-5.0 cm) broad:

5a. Lower surface o f lamina almost glabrous: apex o f lobes with a single

prominent tooth....................................................................... p. shensiense

166

5b. Both surfaces o f lamina fibrillose: apex of lobes without prominent

tooth:

6a. Plants small; fronds fragile; lower margin o f pinnae unlobed.......

............................................................................................P. thomsonii6b. Plants large, densely scaly: fronds upright, forming clumps;

pinnae deeply lobed................................................ P. prescottianunt

4b. Lamina large, broad:

7a. Lamina-base truncate, both surfaces fibrillose. apices o f lobes

pointed..........................................................................................P. wilsonii7b. Lamina-base broadly truncate, much tapered below, lower surface

fibrillose................................................................................. P. bakerianum3b. Lamina always 2- pinnate; pinnae with many pinnules:

8a. Lamina coriaceous:

9a. Plants sparsely fibrillose; pinnules often smaller and less lobed;

stipe-scales wide and dark.........................................P. piceopaleaceum

9b. Plants densely fibrillose; pinnules longer-pointed and lobed; stipe-

scales not wide and dark..................................................... P. yunnanense8b. Lamina sub-coriaceous to herbaceous:

10a. Rachis with broad scales:

11a. Stipe densely scaly....................................................P. squarrosum

l i b . Stipe scaly at base, higher up stipe fibrillose.......P. luctuosum10b. Rachis without broad scales...............................................P. discretum

Polystichum bakerianum (Atkins, ex Clarke) Diels, Nat. Pfl. 1(4): 191 (1899);


Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 156 (1984); Chandra, Fems India: 198 (2000); Khullar,

Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 367 (2000).

Aspidium bakerianum Atkins, ex Clarke in Hook., Ic. PI.: t. 1656 (1886); Hope in J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 479 (1902),

A. prescottianum Wall, ex Mett. var. bakerianum Atkins, t'.v Clarke in Trans. Linn.

Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 510 (1880).

167

Polyslichum prescottianum (Wall, ex Mett.) T. Moore var. bakerianum (Atkins, ex

Clarke) Bedd., Handbook Ferns Brit. India: 210 (1883): Dhir. Fems N.W. Himal. in

Biblio. Pteridologica I: 73 (1980).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly. Stipes 10-12 cm long, stramineous, thick, dia.

0.3 cm. densely scaly: rachis scaly, becoming fibrillose higher up, scales as on

stipe. Lamina 1- pinnate, becoming nearly 2- pinnate, large, c. 60 cm long. 10-25

cm broad (in the middle), broad lanceolate, base broadly truncate or much tapered

below to auricles, texture sub-coriaceous or herbaceous, lower surface fibrillose.

upper surface very scantly fibrillose or glabrous: pinnae numerous, more than 30

pairs. 6 cm long. 1.0-1.5 cm broad (largest), alternate (in the lower half o f lamina),

opposite (above middle o f the lamina), sessile, broadly lanceolate, margin deeply

lobed to the costa or becoming pinnate, broadly truncate at the base, pinnae below

the middle o f frond much tapered below, sometimes to auricles; lower pinnae c. 1

cm long, 0.5 cm broad (at base); pinnules (or lobes) 10 pairs or more (in largest

middle pinnae), 0.5-1.5 (-2.5) cm long. 0.3-0.5 cm broad (at base), rhomboidal or

lanceolate, alternate, sessile or shortly petiolate. base truncate or cuneate. apex

acute, margin variously lobed, sometimes deeply lobed almost to the costule or

serrate-dentate, shortly aristate. Sori indusiate, large, occupying almost the entire

surface, medial, 3-4 pairs in a single row on either side o f costule, complete frond

seldom fertile, generally only upper half o f frond fertile; indusia light brown,

orbicular, margin irregularly lobed. Spores dark brown, perinate.

Cytology: Diploid sexual, n«41.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; S.W. China; Tibet; Nepal.

Ecology: Rare, growing on alpine hill-slopes or meadows, between 3000-4200 m

altitudes.

Local Distribution: Baramulla (Fraser-Jenkins); Anantnag (Fraser-Jenkins); Sind

Valley, 12,000 ft (Clarke 30992, CAL); Gangabal Lakes (R.R. Stewart 18144);

Marbal Pass (Clarke 31323A); Pir Panjal, 10,000-12,000 ft (EJV. Trotter)-, Sarpat

(McDonell).

Polystichum discretum (D. Don) J. Sm. in j. Bot. 3: 413 (1841); Diels, Nat. Pfl.

1(4): 199 (1899); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 157 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Asp. PI.

168

Sci. 13: 270 (1991); Chandra, Ferns India: 200 (2000); Khullar. Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 2: 368 (2000). Plate - 26 (II).

Aspidium discrelum D. Don. Prodr. FI. Nepal: 4 (1824).

Polystichum aculeatum sensu aucl. India, non (I..) Roth (1834).

Rhizome short, erect, woody, oblique, scaly. Stipes 9-35 cm long, robust,

stramineous, thick, dia. 0.2 cm, scaly and densely fibrillose; scales light to deep

brown to almost black, linear-lanceolate (never broad), scales higher up on stipe

becoming narrower; rachis densely Fibrillose; fibrils light to dark brown, linear,

thin, hair-likc, the changeover to fibrils is a gradual one and just above the stipe-

base, broad lanceolate scales absent. Lamina 2- pinnate, large 40-50 (-100) cm

long, c. 20 cm broad, lanceolate, texture softly sub-coriaceous, lower surface

fibrillose, upper surface glabrous; pinnae many. 12-15 (-30) pairs, 9-20 cm long,

1.0-1.5 cm broad (largest), close, alternate, shortly petiolate, lanceolate, apices

upwardly directed, lowest pair o f pinnae slightly reduced in size, 8-12 cm long,

sometimes downward deflexed; pinnules numerous, 1.5-1.9 cm long, 0.4-0.6 cm

broad, somewhat variable in shape, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly rhombic-oblong,

alternate, shortly petiolate. becoming sessile in the distal part o f lamina and pinnae,

base unequal, apex acutely pointed with prominent teeth, margin serrate-dentate to

spinulosely serrate, each tooth ending in a short spine, auricled. Sori indusiate, sub-

medial (nearer the costa than the margin), 3-4 in a single row on either side o f the

costa, including the auricle; indusia pale brown, orbicular, large, margin irregularly

lobed. Spores light brown, perinate.


Sporulation: May - October.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Yunnan; Nepal; Bhutan; Burma;

Thailand.

Ecology: Fairly common, growing in shady forest slopes or ravines, from 2000-

3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 18, 53); Shrenz, Babareshi

{Maajed 158).

Stewart (1972) erroneously used the name P. discretion to what is now

known as Polystichum luctuosum (Khullar, 2000).

169

Polystichum lachenense (Hook.) Bedd., Ferns Brit. India: pi. 32 (1865) and

Handbook Fems Brit. India: 203 (1883); Stewart in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat.




Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 376 (2000).

Aspidium lachenense Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 8, t. 212 (1862); Clarke in Trans. Linn. Soc.

London II (Bot.) 1: 506 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 458 (1902).

Rhizome short, erect, ± thick, scaly. Stipe 2-3 (-7) cm long, dark brown,

thin, glossy, scaly and fibrillose; rachis scaly and fibrillose. Lamina 1- pinnate,

small, 5-18 cm long, narrow, 1-3 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, fragile, texture

herbaceous, lower surface sparsely fibrillose, upper surface glabrous; pinnae 10-15

pairs, small, c. 0.6 cm long, 0.4 cm broad (largest), distant, alternate, sub-sessile,

deltate-ovate, margin more or less sub-entire, or spinulosely crenate or crenate-

serrate or shallowly lobed, apex obtuse, lower pinnae not much reduced (0.4*0.3

cm) but sometimes distant. Sori indusiate, sub-medial, 4-10 pairs in a single row on

either side o f the costa; indusia pale brown, orbicular, large, margin irregularly

lobed. Spores light brown, perinate.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan; Burma;

Taiwan; Japan.

Ecology: Occasional, growing on rocky hill-slopcs, from above 3000 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Apharwat (R.R. Stewart)-, Gulmarg, 4200 m (S.P. Khullar 5488,

PAN); Lidder Valley, 4000-4500 m (J.F. Duthie 14128, DD; Sedgewick s.n., 7277,

CAL); Upper Lidder, Sind and Kishenganga Valleys (R.R. Stewart); Kolahoi

Glacier, 3600 m (K.K. Dhir); Gangabal Lakes (R.R. Stewart); Pir Panjal Range

(R.R. Stewart); Zanskar.

Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth, Tent. FI. Germ. 3: 71 (1799); Bedd., Handbook

Fems Brit. India: 207 (1883); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot, Club 72: 4 1 1 (1945), and

in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 14 (1972); Dhir,

Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 76 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian

170

Pterid.: 158 (1984); Fras.-Jenk, in Asp. PI. Sci. 13; 255 (1991); Chandra, Fems

India: 203 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 379 (2000). Plate - 27 (I).

Polypodium lonchitis L., Sp. PI. 2: 1088 (1753).

Aspidium Io n ch itis Sw. in Clarke. Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 505 (1880);


Rhizome short, thick, woody, oblique, densely scaly. Stipes short, 2-5 cm

long, brown (blackish at base), robust, thick, dia. 0.3 cm. densely scaly and

fibrillose, higher up on stipe scales gradually diminishing in size; rachis scaly and

fibrillose, scales smaller than those on stipe. Lamina 1- pinnate, 25-35 cm long, 3-4

cm broad, lincar-lanceolate, considerably narrowed towards base, texture leathery,

rigidly coriaceous, lower surface scaly; scales small, scattered, few, upper surface

slightly glossy, glabrous; pinnae 35-40 pairs, short, 2.0-2.5 cm long (largest),

alternate, shortly petiolate, oblique on rachis, ovate-lanceolate, falcate, close

(almost overlapping when pressed), base oblique on lower side, margin more or less

unlobed, spinulosely serrate, serratures ending in sharp spines, auricled, auricle on

acroscopic side, never free, lower pinnae greatly reduced, 0.5-1.5 cm long, not

downward deflexed. Sori indusiate, numerous, small, sub-marginal towards margin,

close together, almost confluent at maturity, deviating from costa to base in an

almost ‘V’ shaped manner, 15-40 in a row on either side o f the costa, generally only

the upper half of the frond fertile; indusia pale yellow to dark brown, orbicular,

large, margin irregularly serrate. Spores dark brown, perinate.

Cytology; Diploid sexual, n=41.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; N. Asia; Europe;

America.

Ecology: Common, growing on rocks in humus situations o f cold temperate alpine

zones, from 2700-3300 m altitude.

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg (Maajed 90 etc.; R.R. Stewart; S.P. Khullar);

Gulmarg (Maajed 406); Ningal Nallah, Baramulla; Sonamarg, 3000 m (E. W.

Trotter 177, DD; R.R. Stewart; K.K. Dhir); Mt. Kolahoi, 2700-3000 m (K.K. Dhir;

R.R. Stewart); Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart); Kishenganga Valley, 4000 m (J.F. Duthie

171

14112, DD); Rajdhan Pass. 9,000-12.000 ft (R.R. Stewart): Kanzalwan, Gurez

(Maajed311); Bamai, Gurez (M aajed257).

Common Name: Holly Fern (English).

Polystichum luctuosum (Kunze) T. Moore, Index Fil.; 95 (1858); Nakaike and

Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 1: 277 (1992) and 2: 341 (1993); Fras.-Jenk. in Asp. PI.

Sci. 13: 264 (1991); Chandra, Fems India: 204 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem. FI. W.

Himal. 2: 383 (2000). Plate - 27 (II).Aspidium luctuosum Kunze in Linnaea 10: 548 (1835); Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 14: 475 (1902).

A. tsus-simense Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 16, pi. 220 (1862).

Polystichum tsus-simense (Hook.) J. Sm., Hist. Fil.: 219 (1875); Stewart in Bull.

Torrey Bot. Club 72: 412 (1945); Dhir, Ferns N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica

1: 77 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 160 (1984).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly. Stipes 20-30 cm long, scaly at base and

Fibrillose, scales dark brown or black, linear-lanceolate, margin with filamentous

projections, higher up stipe only fibrillose, fibrils black; rachis fibrillose, fibrils

black, linear-lanceolate. Lamina 2- pinnate, 40 cm long, 8-15 cm broad, narrowly

triangular-lanceolate, texture coriaceous, bluish-green, lower surface scaly, upper

glabrous; pinnae c. 15-20 pairs, 5-10 cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm broad, alternate, petiolate,

base truncate on lower side, apex attenuated, lower pinnae sometimes downwards

deflexed; pinnules 10-15 pairs, 1.5 cm long. 0.5 cm broad, ± distant, sub-sessile,

slightly auricled, ovate-trapezoid, sub-falcate, with aristate apices, lowest

acroscopic pinnule usually markedly longer than the rest and deeply lobed, 2-3 cm

long. Sori indusiate; indusia ovate to reniform. Spores yellowish.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; W. Nepal; Taiwan;

Korea; Japan; S. Africa.

Ecology: Occasional, growing in moist shaded places o f drier valleys, from 1300-

2400 m altitude.

172

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road, near Rampur. 1350 m (R.R. Stewart 12148

teste Khullar; Maajed 190, 195); Jhelum Valley (E.W. Trotter s . n DD);

Kishenganga Valley, below Titwal, 1300 m(/?.tf. and f. D Stewart 17387, CAL).

Recorded by Stewart (1945, 1972) from Kashmir Valley, but he erroneously

used the name P. discretum for it.

Polystichum piceopaleaceum Tag. in Acta Phytotax. Geobot 5: 255 (1936); Fras.-

Jenk. in Asp. PI. Sci. 13: 271 (1991); Nakaike and Malik, Crypt. FI. Pakistan 2: 341

(1993); Chandra, Fems India: 208 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 401

(2000). Plate - 28 (I).

P. nigropaleaceum sensu auct. India, non (Christ) Diels in Kngler and Prantl, Nat.

Pflanz. Fam. 1(4): 191 (1899); Stewart Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak.

and Kashmir: 15(1972).

Aspidium angulare sensu Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 471 (1902).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, woody, oblique, densely scaly. Stipes 4-13 (-30)

cm long, brown, robust, thick, dia. 0.3-0.4 cm, very densely scaly and fibrillose,

scales broad-ovate or ovate-lanceolate; rachis densely scaly and fibrillose; scales as

on stipe, but strongly acuminate, margin with short projections, higher up on rachis

broad type scales becoming sparse, small and eventually absent. Lamina 2- pinnate,

10-45 (-65) cm long, 6-10 (-15) cm broad, lanceolate, slightly narrowed towards

base, broadest in the middle, texture sub-coriaceous, lower surface densely scaly

and fibrillose, upper surface sparsely fibrillose to almost glabrous; pinnae many, up

to c. 18-25 pairs, 6-12 cm long, 1-2 cm broad (largest), close, alternate, shortly

petiolate, lanceolate, apices curved upwards, lower pinnae generally downwards

deflexed; pinnules numerous, c. 12 pairs, 0.8 cm long, c. 0.4 cm broad (at base),

shape variable, margin serrate, each tooth ending in a very distinct long spine,

auricled; auricle rounded or aristate, present on acroscopic side (on the side

opposite the rachis), basiscopic side cuneate, basal acroscopic pinnule the largest

(on each pinna), elongated, sometimes 2-4 lobed. Sori indusiate, medial, 5-6 pairs

in a single row on either side o f the costule, lower 3-4 pairs o f pinnae sterile;

indusia pale brown, orbicular, small, margin entire or crenate. Spores brown,

perinate.


173

Sporulation: May - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Nepal; N. Burma;

Taiwan; S. Japan; Sri Lanka.

Ecology: A fern o f forest floors, growing in moist situations, at altitudes o f 1800 m

and above.

Local Distribution: Wagoora, Baramulla (Maajed 04, 10, 85, 128); Shrenz,

Babareshi (Maajed 163); Gulmarg; Tangmarg; Pahalgam; Kishenganga Valley;

Dras, on Ladakh Road.

Polystichum prescottianum (Wall, ex Mett.) T. Moore, Index Fil.: 101 (1858);

Bedd., Handbook Fems Brit. India: 210 (1883); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club

72: 411 (1945), and in Nasir and Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir:

15 (1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 73 (1980); Dixit,

Cens. Indian Pterid.: 159 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in Asp. PI. Sci. 13: 258 (1991);

Chandra, Fems India: 208 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 404 (2000).

Plate - 28 (II).

Aspidium prescottianum Wall, ex Mett., Famg. Pheg. Asp.: 332 (1858); Clarke in

Trans. Linn. Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 510 (1880); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

Soc. 14:77(1902).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, woody, scaly. Stipes 5-10 (-15) cm long,

stramineous to light brown, thick, dia. 0.4 cm, soft, flaccid, densely scaly and

fibrillose; scales light brown, concolorous, large, broad lanceolate or narrowly

lanceolate; rachis very densely scaly and fibrillose, large ovate scales absent, fibril-

margins slightly toothed. Lamina 1- pinnate, 20-40 (-45) cm long, 2-6 cm broad,

narrowly lanceolate, broadest in the middle, narrowed towards the base, erect,

texture herbaceous to sub-coriaceous, both surfaces densely fibrillose with long

fibrils; pinnae 25-35 pairs, 1.6-3.5 (-4.7) cm long, 0.4-1.0 cm broad (largest),

alternate, sessile, ovate-oblong to very narrow and elongate-lanceolate, distant, base

truncate, margin deeply lobed to the costa into 4-10 small lobes, which may

sometimes become free and lamina becoming 2- pinnate; lobes (or pinnules) margin

spinulose-serrate with each lobe ending in an awn or a spine, lower pinnae slightly

reduced, 0.8-1.0 cm long. Sori indusiate, small, sub-medial, 4-6 pairs in a single

row on either side o f the costa, only upper half o f the frond fertile; indusia pale

175

Polystichum squarrosum (D. Don) Fee, Mem. Fam. Foug. 5 Gen. Fil: 278 (1850-

52); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 412 (1945). and in Nasir and Ali. Annot.

Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 15 (1972); Dhir. Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio.

Pteridologica 1: 75 (1980); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 160 (1984); Fras.-Jenk. in

Asp. PI. Sci. 13: 270 (1991); Nakaike and Maiik. Crypt. I'l. Pakistan 2: 342 (1993);


Aspidium squarrosum D. Don. Prodr. FI. Nepal: 4 (1825); Hope in J. Bombay Nat.

Hist. Soc. 14: 470(1902).

A. aculeatum (L.) Sw. var. rufo-barbata (Wall, ex Schott) Clarke in Trans. Linn.

Soc. London II (Bot.) 1: 509 (1880).

Polystichum rufo-barbatum Wall, ex Schott, Gen. Fil: 19 (1834).

Rhizome erect, thick, woody, ascendant, densely scaly. Stipes (9-) 15-25 cm

long, light- to very deep brown, very densely scaly and fibrillose; rachis densely

fibrillose throughout, broad scales only on basal part o f rachis. Lamina 2- pinnate,

large, 30-45 (-50) cm long, 15-20 cm broad, lanceolate, texture very coriaceous,

stiff, hairy, hard, greyish-green, lower surface fibrillose. upper surface glossy,

glabrous; pinnae c. 25 pairs, 5-10 (-12) cm long, 2 cm broad (at base), alternate,

shortly petiolate, apex acuminate, lower pinnae ± distant from the next one,

gradually smaller than the pair above, sometimes downwards dcflexed, in other

pinnae the apex curved upwards; pinnules 12-18 pairs, c. 1.7 cm long, 0.5 cm broad

(at base), rhomboidal or elongated and more or less lobed or pinnatifid. broadest at

base, base often overlapping (in the region o f the auricle), close, alternate, very

shortly petiolate, unequal at base, apex acuminate, margin entire to spinulose,

serrate to deeply spinulose-serrate, pinnules sometimes elongated, up to 3 cm long,

margin more or less entire or serrate or shallowly to deeply lobed, with a sharp, stiff

tooth on each lobe or segment on both sides, having one or sometimes 3- 4 small

acute teeth on the sides, auricled on acroscopic side; auricle acutely pointed, often

prominent, sometimes becoming a separate segment towards the middle in large

well-developed fronds, stiff, bearing a single long spinulose tooth at the apex. Sori

indusiate, large, 2-8 pairs per pinnule, generally lower 2-3 (-5) pairs o f pinnae

sterile; indusia light brown, orbicular, large, persistent, margin almost entire. Spores

light brown, perinate.

176



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; S.W. China; Tibet; Nepal; Bhutan.

Ecology: A rather uncommon species, growing generally on the forest floor, from


Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road, Uri to Aliabad (R.R. Stewart); Pahalgam,

2200 m (K.K. Dhir).

Polystichum thomsonii (Hook, fil.) Bedd.. Fems Brit. India: t. 126 (1866) and

Handbook Fems Brit. India: 206 (1833); Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 412

(1945), and in Nasir and Ali. Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 15

(1972); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 72 (1980); Dixit. Cens.

Indian Pterid.: 160 (1984); Chandra, Fems India: 212 (2000); Khullar. Illus. Fern.

FI. W. Himal. 2: 414 (2000).

Aspidium thomsonii Hook./?/., Second Cent. Fems: t. 25 (1860); Clarke in Trans.


466(1902).

Lastrea gracilis T. Moore ex Bedd., Fems Brit. India: 2, t. 198 (1866).

Rhizome short, erect, scaly. Stipes 3-10 cm long, stramineous, thin, fragile,

sparsely scaly and fibrillose, scales gradually becoming fewer and narrower higher

up on stipe; rachis fibrillose, broad ovate scales absent. Lamina 1- pinnate, small, 6-

16 cm long, narrow, 1.5-2.0 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, broadest in the middle,

slightly narrowed towards base, texture sub-coriaceous to herbaceous, both surfaces

Fibrillose, upper surface sparsely fibrillose; pinnae up to c. 15-25 pairs, short, 1-2

cm long, 0.3-0.5 cm broad (largest), alternate, shortly petiolate, asymmetrical,

broadest at the very unequal base, acroscopic margin lobed almost to the costa,

spinulose, acroscopic lobes larger, basal acroscopic lobe the largest, basiscopic

margin unlobed, except for the narrow, very obliquely inserted lobes towards the

apex, lobes decurrent on the pinnae-costa, apex o f lobes without prominent teeth,

lower pinnae not much reduced (1.0-1.5 cm long). Sori indusiate, sub-medial, 6-8

pairs, in a single row on either side o f the costa, complete frond fertile; indusia pale

brown, orbicular, large, margin irregularly lobed. Spores yellow-brown, perinate.


177


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan;

Taiwan.

Ecology: Occasional, growing on shaded moist rock crevices, between 1700-3000

m altitudes.

Local Distribution: Gulmarg (Levinge); Pahalgam; Chandanwari. 3200 m (T.N.

Khoshoo 2413, PAN); Kolahoi Glacier, 3600 m (K.K. Dhir): Har Nag, Lidder

Valley, 6,500-12,500 ft (R.R. Stewart 9342); ascent Deosai (R.R. Stewart 20005).

Polystichum wilsonii Christ in Bot. Gaz. 51: 353 (1911); Chandra, Fems India: 213

(2000); Khullar, Ulus. Fern. FI. W. Himal. 2: 418 (2000).

P. sinense (Christ) Christ in Bull. Soc. Fr. 52 Mem. 1: 30 (1905).

P. fukuyamae Tag. in Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 6: 159 (1937).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, oblique, scaly. Stipes 10-20 (-40) cm long,

stramineous, thick, scaly and densely fibrillose. higher up on stipe scales becoming

smaller and narrower; rachis scaly and Fibrillose. Lamina 2- pinnate, large, 20-30 (-

50) cm long, 5-8 (-15) cm broad, linear-lanceolate, base truncate, texture

herbaceous, both surfaces Fibrillose, lower surface densely fibrillose; pinnae c. 35

pairs, 5 cm long, 1.6 cm broad, lanceolate, alternate, lower few pinnae petiolate,

rest sessile, base unequal, apex acuminate, bearing small acute hair-pointed teeth

around their apices, the topmost one being the largest, margin deeply lobed,

becoming pinnate, lowest pairs o f pinnae downwards deflexed, distant; pinnules c.

15 pairs, oblong, narrow lanceolate, sub-opposite or alternate, sessile, base

narrowed, apex acute, margin serrate with hair pointed teeth around apices,

basiscopic pinnules longer than the acroscopic ones, basiscopic one the largest;

costae and costules scaly and fibrillose. Sori indusiate, small, ± cuneate, medial, 3-4

pairs in a single row on either side o f the costule; indusia light brown, orbicular,

large, persistent, membranaceous, glabrous. Spores dark brown, perinate; perine

convoluted into folds.



Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Nepal; Bhutan; Taiwan.

Ecology: A rather uncommon fern, growing among rocks, above 2500 m altitude.

178

Local Distribution: Khillanmarg (Maajed 86); Dagwan, 3500 m (B M. IVadhwa

90339, BSD).

Polystichum yunnanense Christ. Not. Syst. 1: 34 (1909). non Aspidium acukatum

Sw. var. yunnanense Christ (1898) (= Polystichum discretion), nec Aspidium

yunnanense Christ (1898); Fras.-Jenk. in Asp. PI. Sci. 13: 272 (1991); Chandra,

Fems India: 213 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 420 (2000).

P la te -2 9 (1 ) .

P. makino sensu Fras.-Jenk. et Khullar in Indian Fern J. 2: 5 (1985), non Tag.

(1936).

Rhizome short, erect, thick, woody, oblique, densely scaly. Stipes 5-15 (-30)

cm long, brown, robust, thick, dia. 0.3-0.4 cm, stipe-base with wide ovate scales,

which do not normally extend far up the stipe before becoming small and are

usually lighter, stipe very fibrillose, fibrils reddish, scaly, scales small, wide; rachis

very fibrillose, scaly, scales small, wide. Lamina 2- pinnate, 15-50 (-70) cm long, 6-

10 (-20) cm broad, lanceolate, slightly narrowed towards base, broadest in the

middle, texture sub-coriaceous, often dark bluish-green, with slight depressions on

the upper surface of the lamina above each sorus; pinnae many, 18-30 pairs, 6-15

cm long, 1-2 cm broad (largest), close, alternate, shortly petiolate, lanceolate;

pinnules numerous, c. 15 pairs, 1-2 cm long, c. 0.5 cm broad (at base), shape

variable, elongated and margins lobed and apices acute, lowest acroscopic pinnule

on each pinna frequently long. Sori indusiate, medial; indusia pale brown, orbicular,

small. Spores brown.


Sporulation: September - March.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Afghanistan; China; Tibet; Nepal;

Burma.

Ecology: Occasional, in moist places, along the forest floor, around 2000 m

altitude.

Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road, near Rampur, 1350 m (Maajed 188);

Gulmarg; Pahalgam (R.R. Stewart 8025, 21772); Lolab Valley (R. McLeod); Uri.

179


Polystichum aculeaium (L.) Schott: This species was reported by Dhir (1980) from

Tangmarg, 2100 m from Kashmir. However, according to Khullar (2000). the

European P. aculeatum in its true sense is not present in the Himalayan region or

India. The species identified under this name from Kashmir belong to either P.

discretum or P. squarrosum.

Polystichum discretum (D. Don) Diels: Reported by Stewart (1957, 1972) from

Kashmir Valley. However the name is a misapplied one for P. luctuosum. Thus, the

Kashmir specimens identified under P. discretum belong to P. luctuosum.

Polystichum nigropaleaceum (Christ) Diels: Stewart (1972) reported this fem from

Kashmir Valley. However, this name is a misapplied one for P. piceopaleaceum.

Thus, the Kashmir specimens identified under P. nigropaleaceum belong to P.

piceopaleaceum.

Polystichum setiferum (Forssk.) T. Moore ex Wovnar: Reported by Stewart (1972)

from various locations in Kashmir Valley. However, Fraser-Jenkins and Khullar

(1985) remarked that P. setiferum o f Europe does not occur in the Indian

subcontinent at all. The specics previously mistaken for P. setiferum is mainly P.

yunnanense (Khullar, 2000).

Blechnaccac Copel., Gen. Fil.: 155 (1947),

Type: Blechnum L.

The family comprises 12 genera (Pichi Sermolli. 1977); only one is


Woodwardia J. Sm. in Mem. Acad. Sc. Turin 5: 411 (1793).

Type: Woodwardia radicans (L.) J. Sm.

The genus is represented by a single species in the Indian subcontinent,

which is also recorded from the area o f study.

Woodwardia unigemmata (Mak.) Nakai in Bot. Mag. Tokyo 39: 103 (1925);

Stewart in Biologia 3(2): 18 (1957), and in N asirand Ali, Annot. Cat. Vase. PI. W.

Pak. and Kashmir: 19 (1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 173 (1984); Nakaike and


Khullar, Illus. Fem. FI. W. Himal. 2: 477 (2000). P late - 29 (II).

IVoodwardia radicans (L.) J. Sm. var. unigenimaia Mak. in J. Japan Bot. 2: 7

(1918).

W. radicans sensu Bedd.. Fems British India: t. 88 (1865) and Handbook I-ems

Brit. India: 135, t. 68 (1883); Hope in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 459 (1901);

Stewart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 72: 418 (1945); Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in

Biblio. Pteridologica 1:115 (1980).

Rhizome short, ascending, thick, densely scaly; scales golden-brown,

concolorous, up to 2 cm long, lanceolate, apex acuminate, basally attached. Stipes

30 cm long or more, brown, thick, scaly at base, higher up stipe glabrous, scales as

on rhizome; rachis similar to stipe, scaly; scales brown, bicolorous. ovate, apex

subulate, margin entire, usually one. or occasionally even three (sometimes only

two) scaly vegetative buds present towards the terminal part o f the frond. Lamina 1-

pinnate, large, up to 1.5 m long, texture sub-coriaceous, glabrous; pinnae many. 40

cm or more long, 3-6 cm broad, distant, alternate, petiolate, upper pinnae sessile,

lanccolate, margin deeply lobed, base unequal; lobes many, 1.5-3.0 cm long, 0.6-

0.8 cm broad, ovate-lanceolate, sub-falcate, apex acuminate, margin backwrards

deflexed, spinulose-serrate, cartilaginous, apex acute. Sori indusiate. rectangular or

oblong, deeply sunk in a cavity with raised margin, in a single row on either side,

close and parallel to the costae; indusia flap-like, opening inwards in the costal side,

texture coriaceous. Spores light brown, perinate.


Sporulation’. June - September.

Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; China; Tibet; Taiwan; Philippines;

Japan.

Ecology: Occasional, growing on moist, shaded and humus rich hill-slopes, from


Local Distribution: Jhelum Valley Road, near Rampur. 1350 m (.Maajed 189, 192);

west of Kashmir (.Inayat 202133, CAL); Lower Kishenganga Valley.

Common Name: Chain Fern (English).

Azollaceae Wettstein, Handbook Syst. Bot. 2: 77 (1903).

Type: Azolla Lam.

This monotypic family is represented by the sole genus in our area.

Azolla Lam., Encyclo. Meth. 1: 343 (1783).

Type: Azolla filiculoides Lam.

The genus comprises six species (Rashid. 1996); only one is recorded from

the area under investigation.

Azolla pinnata R. Br., Prodr. FI. N. Holl.: 167 (1810); Stewart in Nasir and Ali,

Annot, Cat. Vase. PI. W. Pak. and Kashmir: 21 (1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.;

174 (1984); Chandra, Fems India: 425 (2000): Khullar, Illus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2:

480 (2000). P la te - 3 0 (I).

A. pinnata R. Br. var. imbricata Sweet et Hill in Amer. Fem J. 61: 1-13 (1971);

Dhir, Fems N.W. Himal. in Biblio. Pteridologica 1: 52 (1980).

Stems up to 2.5 cm long, thin, main axis pscudo-dichotomously branched.

Leaves in two rows, imbricate but widely spaced towards the base, bi-lobed, entire

plant generally flat or slightly curled; upper or dorsal lobe non-imbricate in the

proximal part, slightly imbricate towards the distal part, ovate or broadly elliptic,

apex acutc or sub-rounded; central region chlorophyllus, margin hyaline, irregularly

broad, comprising 2-4 layers o f radially elongate cells; ventral lobe colourless, ± as

large as the dorsal lobe. Sporocarps on the submerged ventral lobes;

microsporocarps either borne singly or subtended by megasporocarps, spherical;

megasporocarps larger with a single megaspore.

Cytology: n=22.


Geographical Distribution: India; Pakistan; Japan; Australia; Africa.

Ecology: Common, in ponds or stagnant waters o f low altitude regions, from 500-

1600 m.

Local Distribution: Dal Lake, Srinagar (Maajed 343).

Salviniaceae H.G.L. Reichenbach, Bot. Damen, Kunstler and Freunde Pflanzenw.:

255 (1828).

Type: Salvinia Seguier.

This monotypic family is represented by the sole genus in our area.

Salvinia Seguier, FI. Veron. 3: 352 (1754).

Type: Salvinia natans (L.) All.

182

The genus is represented by 10 species (Rashid, 1996); two of these are


Key to the Species:la. Pinnae hastate; four hairs on the tip o f cach papilla joined at their tips;

sporocarps ± loose..........................................................................................S. molesta

lb . Pinnae ovate-oblong; four hairs on the tip o f each papilla not joined, but free

and spreading; sporocarps clustered..............................................................S. natans

Salvinia molesta Mitchell, Brit. Fem Gaz. 10: 251 (1972); Dixit, Cens. Indian

Pterid.: 174 (1984); Chandra, Fems India: 424 (2000); Khullar, Illus. Fem FI. W.

Himal. 2: 484 (2000). Plate - 30 (II).

Plants vary depending upon the stage o f development and age. Rhizome

thin, hairy; hairs small, brown, acicular. Floating leaves 0.75*1.5 cm (young stage)

to 2.5*4.5 cm (fully grown), sub-sessile, sub-opposite, flattened dorsoventrally,

oblong-ovate (primary stage) to deltatc, conduplicateiy folded, each half sub-

cuneate in the secondary stage, base slightly curved upwards; lamina fusing with

midrib in the basal region to form a crescent-shaped (in the primary stage) keel,

upper surface covered with brown, branched hairs, or with ‘egg-beater’ like hairs in

linear rows, oblique to midrib (in the intermediate and secondary growth stages);

submerged leaves terminating in a 2-3 (-10) cm long axis, with one or two branches

of loose sporocarps, surrounded by 30-45 root-like, filiform branches produced just

above the base o f the sporocarp axis. Sporocarps pedunculate to sub-sessile. 2-4 (-

30) per bunch, in rather loose rows, ovoid, apiculate, basal megasporocarp, rest all

microsporocarps; megasporocarps long-pedicelled, laterally compressed, brownish,

ovate, apiculate, covered with bristle-like hairs; microsporocarps larger, short

pedunculate, bearing sparse brownish hairs, globose, apiculate.


Geographical Distribution: India; Sri Lanka; Malaysia; Indonesia; Australia; S.

Africa; Zimbabwe; Botswana; Kenya; Brazil.

Ecology: A fast growing serious aquatic pest, inhabiting the lakes o f Kashmir

(including Dal, Nigeen etc.).

Local Distribution: Dal Lake, Srinagar (Maajed 208).

Common Name: Giant Water Fern (English).

183

Salvinia natans (L.) All., FI. Pedem. 2: 289 (1785); Stewart in Bull. Iorrey Bot.



Dixit, Cens. Indian Pterid.: 17 (1984); Chandra, Ferns India: 424 (2000); Khullar,

Ulus. Fern FI. W. Himal. 2: 485 (2000).

Marsilea natans L., Sp. PI. 2: 1099 (1753).

Rhizome long creeping, repeatedly dichotomously branched, hairy, hairs

brown. Leaves in whorls of three, two floating and one submerged: floating leaves

simple 1-2 cm long and as much broad, ovale or oblong, leaves flat or infolded

along the midrib, base cordate, margin entire, especially in the older and closely

arising leaves, basal margin slightly curved upwards, texture thick herbaceous,

upper surface hairy, hairs in oblique rows between the main lateral veins, with a

short stalk and four free spreading branches, greenish-white, lower surface almost

glabrous or with brownish acicular hairs; axis o f submerged leaves (organs)

terminating in 2 or 3 sporocarp bunches subtended by a tuft o f (up to 15) root-like

simple filiform 2-3 cm long branches, covered densely with long, brown, acicular

hairs. Sporocarps 2-6, globose, sessile (-sub-sessile), clustered (tight knitted),

megasporocarps 1-2. located at base, rest all microsporocarps.

Cytology: n=9.


Geographical Distribution: Widely distributed in the warmer regions o f Europe and

perhaps elsewhere in the temperate regions; Far West Asia.

Ecology: Abundant in lakes and waterways o f Kashmir.

Local Distribution: Dal Lake, 1600 m (Meehold 806, CAL; TA. Rao 7739, BSD;

Nair 37083, BSD; K.K. Dhir); Narbal, on way to Gulmarg (A S Rao 63688, BSD);

other small lakes and canals o f the Valley, between 1500-1800 m (K.K. Dhir).

This species has been widely over-reported for S. molesta and other species.

Some more Doubtful/Excluded Taxa:

Araiostegia pulcltra (D. Don) Copel.: Reported generally by Beddome (1892) from

Kashmir, without citing any specific location; however not confirmed by later

workers.

Notholaena lanuginosa (Desv.) Desv. ex Poir.: Jerdon is supposed to have found

this in ‘Cashmire,’ but none o f the later workers like Stewart. Dhir, Khullar etc.

could confirm it.

Notholaena marantae (L.) Desv.: Recorded only by Clarke (1880) and Beddome

(1883); not confirmed by later workers.

Phymatopteris erythrocarpa (Mett. ex Kuhn) Pich. $enr\.=(joniophlebium

erythrocarpum (Mett. ex Kuhn) Bedd.=Phymatopsis erythrocarpa (Mett. ex Kuhn)

Ching: Mentioned by Khullar (1994), and Singh and Pande (2002) having been

reported by Beddome (1883), however Beddome (1883) does not mention any

Kashmir specific locality.

Polypodiastrum argutam (Wall, ex Hook.) Ching: Dubiously reported by Clarke

(1880) and Beddome (1883) from Kashmir to Bhutan; however not reported by

later workers like Stewart, Khullar etc.

Polypodioides lachnopus (Wall, ex Hook.) Ching: This fem is said by Clarke and

Beddome to grow from Kashmir eastward but neither Hope nor Stewart, or later

workers have reported it from Kashmir.

Polypodioides microrhizoma (Clarke ex Baker) Ching: Although on Clarke and

Trotter’s list, however its occurrence in Kashmir is doubtful; not reported by later

workers like Stewart, Khullar etc.

Pyrossia flocculosa (D. Don) Ching: Reported by Nayar and Chandra (1965) from

Verinag, Kashmir in error. Fraser-Jenkins has investigated the origin o f the

specimen o f this species (at LWG), citcd by Nayar and Chandra (1965) as from

Verinag in Kashmir, but the actual locality is Verinag (Berinag) in Pithorgarh (TJP,

India).

184

(P L jm s(Terns)

(PLM CE - 5

I. Osmunda claytoniana.

II. Lepisorus clcithratus.

<PLA'FE - 6

I. Cheilanthes anceps.

II. Cheilanthes persica.

(PLA^E - 7

I. Cryptogramma brunoniana.

II. Cryptogramma stelleri.

(P L A tt - 8

I. Pteridium revolutum.

II. P ter is cretica.

(PLJA^E - 9

I. Adiantum capillus-veneris.

II. Adiantum pedatum.

I. Adiantum venustum.

(P L A T E - 1 0

II. Marsilea minuta.

( P L A T E - 11

I. Sphenomeris chinensis.

II. Asplenium adiantum-nigrum.

(PLATE - 1 2

I. Asplenium ceterach.

II. Asplenium dalhousiae.

(PLATE - 1 3

I. Asplenium fontanum subsp. pseudofontanum.

II. Asplenium laciniatum.

<pjcjn>E - is

I. Asplenium ruta-muraria.

II. Asplenium septentrionale.

1.

II.

< P £M E - 1 6

I. Asplenium trichomanes.

II. Athyrium atkinsonii.

<V L J W E - 1 7

I. Athyrium attenuatum.

II. Athyrium mackinnoniorum.

& L JW E -18

I. Athyrium rubricaule.

II. Athyrium strigillosum.

(PLjfflE - 1 9

Cystopteris fragilis.

Cystopteris fragilis subsp. dickieana.

(PLJME 20

I. Depariajaponica.

II. Diplazium maximum.

<P£J?7 £ - 21

Gymnocarpium fedtschenkoanum.

Phegopteris connectilis.

(PLATE - 22

I. Pseudophegopteris levingei.

II. Thelypteris dentata.

(PLATE - 23

I. Thelypteris palustris.

II. Dryopteris barbigera.

(PLATE - 24

I. Dryopteris blanfordii.

II. Dryopteris nigropaleacea.

(PLATE - 25

I. Dryopteris ramosa.

II. Dryopteris stewartii.

(PLJLTE - 26

I. Dryopteris xanthomelas.

II. Polystichum discretum.

(PLJWE - 27

I. Polystichum lonchitis.

II. Polystichum luctuosum.

(PLATE - 28

I. Polystichum piceopaleaceum.

II. Polystichum prescottianum.

(PLATE 29

I. Polystichum yunnanense.

II. Woodwardia unigemmata.

(PLJl'PL - 30

I. Azolla pinnata.

II. Salvinia molesta.

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