Studies on homosporous ferns from Kashmir Himalayas - I: Taxonomy of

Ophioglossum vulgatum (Ophioglossaceae)

Keywords: Cytotaxonomy, a homosporous fern, Kashmir Himalayas, India.

ABSTRACT: Ophioglossum vulgatum L. collected from Jammu and Kashmir has been described. The taxonomic studies along with the figures have been given. The present work was carried out in order to study morphology, palynology in different species of ferns growing in Jammu and Kashmir for providing precise account of these taxa and their relationship with other members of the group.

056-059 | JRPS | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 1

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Journal of Research in

Plant Sciences An International Scientific

Research Journal

Authors:

Bharti Razdan (Kampasi)

and Bhellum BL.

Institution:

Department of Botany,

Govt. Degree College,

Kathua- 180 101, J & K,

India.

Corresponding author:

Bhellum BL.

Email:

blbhellum@gmail.com.

Phone No: 09469213606

Web Address: http://www.plantsciences.info documents/PS0016.pdf.

Dates: Received: 15 Jan 2012 /Accepted: 24 Jan 2012 /Published: 23 Feb 2012

Article Citation: Bharti Razdan (Kampasi) and Bhellum BL. Studies on homosporous ferns from Kashmir Himalayas - I: Taxonomy of Ophioglossum vulgatum (Ophioglossaceae). Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059

Original Research

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INTRODUCTION

Ophioglossum vulgatum L. is an interesting

genus of filicineae bearing only a simple leaf-process,

the so called sterile segment. It inhabits in cooler hilly

and shady places of the Himalayas which is considered

as the suitable place of its occurrence. From India the

taxonomic work on ferns has mainly come from

Beddome (1883), Clarke (1879) and Hope (1899- 1903).

In the last century much work on the taxonomy of Indian

ferns has not been done except for revision of about 18

genera and systematic list of ferns of various regions of

the country (Bir, 1977). In the meanwhile a few regional

floras as ferns of Northwestern Himalaya by Dhir (1980),

Fern Flora of Musoorie Hills by Dhir and Sood (1981),

Pteridophytic Flora of Garhwal Himalaya by Bir et al.

(1983) were published. As to the fern flora of Jammu and

Kashmir state is concerned much work has not been done

so far except for enumeration of ferns of Kashmir by

Stewart (1945, 50, 57) who provided distribution notes

on the various species. While preparing an annotated

catalogue of the vascular plants of Pakistan and Kashmir,

Stewart (1972) listed 92 species of ferns under 34 genera

and 8 families from Kashmir. Khullar and Gupta (1978)

studied cytotaxonomy of some fern genera from Western

Himalayas. There are also few scattered reports on the

ferns of the region. Recently, Biplab (2011) carried out

studies on Pteris from Eastern Himalayas. In spite of all

this there is an urgent need of preparing a consolidated

account of this interesting group because so far many

areas of Kashmir region have not been explored at all

and same is true about the Jammu region. Ophioglossum

is widely distributed genus of 26 species (Clausen, 1938;

Copeland, 1947 recognised 56 species) of these 12

(Khandelwal 1985) occur in India and only one O.

vulgatum L. is reported from Kashmir. Beddome (1883)

described 5 species of Ophioglossum on the basis of

morphology. Clarke (1879) while reviewing the ferns of

northern India, made a mention of Ophioglossum

vulgatum L. Chakravarty (1951) studied this genus with

special reference to taxonomy and distribution. The

cytomorphology of the species shows a great variation

with respect to morphology and chromosome numbers.

In this communication, the authors have made an attempt

to work out the cytotaxonomy of Ophioglossum

vulgatum L. Spore morphology of the species has also

been studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study is based on collection of

specimens of Ophioglossum vulgatum from Kashmir

Himalaya. The identity of these specimens was

confirmed. The morphlolgical notes are based on the

Herbarium specimens, these also include detailed study

on spores of the species. For studying spores, were

mounted in Hoyer’s medium (Anderson, 1954) which

have the following contents:

Chloral hydrate : 200 gm

Glycerine : 20 c.c.

Distilled water : 50 c.c.

Gum Arabic : 30 gm

Since the gum Arabic was not available, gum

acacia was used. The above mentioned contents were

stirred well and mixed at room temperature to form

mountant. The measurement for cell lumen and cell wall

thicking were taken with the help of ocular micrometer.

Camera lucida drawings were sketched at table height

under 9 x X 1x or 9x X 2x magnifications.

The present study was based on collection of

specimens of Ophioglossum vulgatum from Kashmir

Himalaysa. The identity of these specimens was

confirmed in the Laboratory.

TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION

Ophioglossum vulgatum L., Sp. Pl. 2, 1062. 1753. O.

unifolium Gilib., Exerc. Phytol. 2, 554. 1792; O.

polyphyllum A. Br., Apud Seubert, Fl. Azor. 17. 1844. O.

mircrostichum Ach. Vet. Ak. Handl, 59. t. 1899.(Fig. 1 ).

Small herbaceous fern; fertile plant 25- 30 cm

Razdan et al., 2012

057 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059

tall. Root-stock fleshy, brownish with numerous roots,

spread horizontally along the substratum. Frond

solitary15- 25 cm long, basal stalk at the height of 4.5- 7

cm bearing 3.5- 7 cm long vegetative fleshy blade,

smooth, entire, venation reticulate. Fertile segment spike,

10- 15 cm long arising from the base of blade; spike

bears a row of crowded sporangia along each margin.

Sporangia open along transverse slits. Spores yellowish,

monolete, globose, tetrahedral 40.6 x 35.9 μm with pitted

exine, laesura 11.3 μm. (Fig. 2).

Specimens examined: Dachigam BR1, BR2, BR3, BR4,

BR5 in moist meadows, usually in shade; Padder BLB.

1228.

Distribution: INDIA: Assam, Bengal, Bihar, South

India, East Himalaya, W. Himalaya; Burma; Srilanka;

Malaya Peninsula.

Locally the fern is called “Chonchur” and is used

as a vegetable. It possesses vulnerary, detergent and

antiseptic properties for which it is used as a remedy for

wounds. The mucilaginous and antringent decoction of

the rhizome is used as lotion for boils in South Africa.

DISCUSSION

Mehra (1961) drew attention to the existence of

species complexes and their bearing on taxonomy of taxa

and stated that study of some of these taxa bring to light

how “they have successfully exploited all the methods of

evolutionary advances prevalent in the angiosperms”.

Among the factors responsible for diversity he

mentioned mutagenic changes, autoploidy, and

hybridization (Trichomonas bipinnatum complex),

autoploidy and gene mutations (Marsilea miuta

complex), high grade polyploidy and advantage of

propagation (Ophioglossum vulgatum complex).

From the present observation, it is clear that

Himalayan species of Ophioglossum vulgatum L. shows

high grade polyploidy and advantageous for vegetative

propagation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

One of the authors (BR) is highly grateful to late

Prof. P. Kachroo and Prof. S. S. Bir for encouragement

and valuable suggestions.

REFERENCES

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Razdan et al., 2012

Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059 058

Fig. 1 Ophioglossum vulgatum L. (Scale- 10 cm)

Fig. 2 Spore of Ophioglossum vulgatum L.

40.6 x 35.9 μm

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059 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059

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