S p o r e m o r p h o l o g y a n d T a x o n o m y o f f e r n s o f B e n g a l

CHAPTER IV

SYSTEMATICTREATMENT

S p o r e m o r p h o l o g y a n d T a x o n o m y o f f e r n s o f B e n g a l

SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT

A. TAXONOMYOF THE FERNS OF BELGAUM DISTRICT

TAXONOMY

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KEY TO FAMILIES OF FERNS OF BELGAUM DISTRICT (modiefied after Devoland Shieh, 1994)1. Aquatic ferns2. Leaves of two kinds: one type floating, green, with midrib, the other finelydissected, submersed, root like …….................................... 6. Salviniaceae (Salvinia)2. Leaves minute, imbricate, tetragonal, about 1 mm long… 6. Salviniaceae (Azolla)1. Terrestrial or epiphytic ferns.3. Ferns with a stem like trunk, with large compound leaves4. Stem tall, over 8 cm in diameter; sori round, medial …...........7. Cyatheaceae4. Stem tall, less than 8 cm in diameter; sori linear.5. Sori parallel to lateral veinlets; indusia linear ..14. Woodsiaceae (Diplazium)5. Sori costal, indusia linear .............................................................. 15. Blechnaceae3. Not tree ferns.6. Fronds with a twining rachis, or the fronds fan shaped with sporangiaborne in terminal tufts (sorophores) …............................................... 5. Lygodiaceae6. Fronds neither twinning nor bearing sorophores at tips7. Fronds pseudo dichotomously branched, with a dormant bud in the axils ofthe forks; ultimate branches pinnate or bipinnatifid; sori round, exindusiate……………………………...…………………..……………....…………..……. 4. Gleicheniaceae7. Not as above.8. Fronds divided near base or middle into a fertile terminal "panicle" of"spike" and a simple, pinnatifid or ternate sterile segment roots fleshy……………………………...……………………………....…………..…… 1. Ophioglossaceae8. Not as above.9. Sporangia borne direcly in dense clusters on the pinna, the fertile fronds,not on the back or margin of ordinary fronds; sterile fronds pinnate,pinnatifid, or bipinnate; sori .................………………….…………. 3. Osmundaceae9. Sporangia borne on the leaf blade of either normal fronds (similar tothe sterile) or specialized fronds (not on a pinna axis); fronds simple todecompound.10. Fronds pinnate with brown leathery stipules at the base of stipes, anda pulvinus at the base of each pinna; sori compact……….. 2. Marattiaceae10. Not as above.11. Ferns without scales or hairs on rhizome, stipe or lamina; oftenwith short glandular brown hairs on fronds …… 9. Dennstaedtiaceae11. Ferns bearing various types of scales or hairs or both on the rhizome,stipe or lamina.

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12. Sporangia acrostichoid or covering the back of the fronds.13. Rhizome creeping; stipes distant .................. 19. Polypodiaceae13. Rhizome short; scales not clathrate, stipes approximate ortufted, sterile fronds with a midrib.............. 18. Lomariopsidaceae12. Sporangia following the veins, or in sori on margin or back offronds (not acrostichoid).14. Sporangia in indefinite sori, undersurface glabrous, farinose,densely covered with a mass of brown hairs or sparingly with scales……………………………...……………………………....………… 10. Adiantaceae14. Sporangia in definite sori, or coenosori.15. Sori exindusiate, superficial, or sometimes sunken or bornin grooves, not covered by a reflexed leaf margin.16. Fronds simple, pinnatifid or pinnate, without hirsute hairson stipe or leaf margin ........................................ 19. Polypodiaceae16. Fronds bipinnatifid to decompound; sori round or oblong;indusia, if present, soon fugacious.17. Fronds glabrous. ............................................ 14. Woodsiaceae17. Fronds bearing unicellular hairs, especially abundant onthe dorsal side of costa ............................. 13. Thelypteridaceae15. Sori with a true indusia, or covered by the more or lessmodified reflexed leaf margin.18. Sori marginal or submarginal.19. Rhizomes, stipes, rachis and often underurface of laminacovered with unicellular or multicellular hairs ….………….……………………………….……………………….…… 9. Dennstaedtiaceae19. Rhizomes and stipes scaly, at least at base; scalessometimes very narrow.20. Indusia opening towards margin. … 8. Lindsaeaceae20. Indusia opening away from margin.21. Fronds strongly dimorphic, fertile fronds brown,pinnate, fertile pinnae much contracted; indusia foldedback nearly to costa, sterile fronds pinnate ................................................................................................ 15. Blechnaceae21. Fronds usually monomorphic, if dimorphic, thefertile fronds green; lamina pinnate to decompound.

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22. Sporangia borne on the reflexed marginal lobes............................................................................. 10. Adiantaceae22. Sporangia protected by the reflexed margin....................................................................... 11. Pteridaceae18. Sori dorsal, or if with some of the sori borne near the margin,also having many sori not borne near the margin.23. Sori linear, straight or curved.24. Sori parallel to costae costules .......... 15. Blechnaceae24. Sori parallel to the oblique veinlets.25. Basal stipes scales clathrate........... 12. Aspleniaceae25. Basal stipe scales opaque .…………....………..….......................14. Woodsiaceae (excluding Diplazium)23. Sori round.26. Rachis grooved on dorsal side, open to admit rachillagrooves27. Base of stipe with several vascular bundles; indusialreniform and attached by sinus or round and peltatelyattached ................................................... 16. Dryopteridaceae27. Base of stipe with 2 vascular bundles; indusia Jshaped or reniform and crossing a veinlet .........……….…………………..14. Woodsiaceae (excluding Diplazium)26. Rachis without a dorsal groove or if grooved, not opento admit rachila grooves…………….………. 18. Tectariaceae

The families are arranged primarily as per the classification given by Smith et

al. (2007). For the sake of convenience, the genera under each family and thespecies under each genus are arranged as per the key. Indented keys have beenprovided for families, genera and species for easy identifications. The distributionin Karnataka is as per Rajgopal and Bhat (1998). The morphology of the ferns ofBelgaum district is as follows...

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CLASS PSILOTOPSIDA

ORDER OPHIOGLOSSALES

1. FAMILY OPHIOGLOASSACEAE

1.1 OPHIOGLOSSUM L. Sp. Pl. 2:1062 (1753)Leaves 1-2, originating from the very subterranean part of rhizome ...... O. nudicauleLeaves smaller, originating from the aerial part of the trophophore, lanceolatecosta not very prominent with less profuse venation ………………… O. gramineum

1.1.1 OPHIOGLOSSUM NUDICAULE L. Suppl. Syst. Pl.: 443 (1781). Clausen, Mem.Torrey Bot. Club. 19(2):143, 146, 147, 150, 151 (1938); Panigrahi and Dixit,Proc. Inst. Sci. India, 35(3):252 fig. 49-52 (1969), Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 23(1984), Manickam , Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 23 (1986), Manickam and Irudayutraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 48 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J.15: 6 (1998).Rhizome erect, cylindrical, medium, colour brown, soft, tuberous, with pointedtip, branched, bearing few rhizoids on surface. Rhizoids cylindrical, branched,narrowed, dull in color, slightly tuberous with a pointed tip, arisingoccasionally from the rhizome, covered with brown colored hairs throughoutits surface, apex obtuse, devoid of hairs, 0.3-0.4 cm long. Sterile leaves ortrophophylls 1-2 per plant, originating from the aerial part of the rhizome atthe very base of plant on substratum, smaller- medium, broadly elliptical-ovate, apex acute-obtuse, base cuneate, margin entire, costa not veryprominent. Leaves silvery green to green, sessile, originating from the base ofpeduncle near the substratum, 2.0-2.2 cm long and 0.5-0.8 cm wide medially,with acute or obtuse apex, base cuneate, margin entire, lamina sheathing thepeduncle, stipe reduced, buried under the soil; veins anastomosing, veinletsbranched occasionally, absent in the marginal and submarginal areoles andwithout free endings, areoles elongated. Fertile segments i.e. strobilus arisefrom the base of sterile blade, vertical at right angle to lamina. Peduncle silvery

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green, rounded in shape, 1.1-2.1 cm in length, bearing 0.3 to 0.7cm long and0.1-0.2 cm broad spike. Upper and lower sporangia usually smaller and sterile.Sporangia lateral, in 7-9 pairs per spike. Plate 3, Exicatta SUKV-901

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Uttar Kannada, Hassan and BelgaumBELGAUM Appachiwadi, SadaNOTE Plants grow in moist coarse soil in the grasslands mixed withGramminae members and hence are prone to cattle grazing.1.1.2 OPHIOGLOSSUM GRAMINEUM WILLD. Nov. Act. Acad. Erf., 2:18 t.1, f.1(1802); Beddome, Handb. Ferns Br. India, Suppl. 108 (1892); Clausen, Mem.Torrey Bot. Club. 19(2):161 (1938); Panigrahi and Dixit, Proc. Inst. Sci.India, 35(3):250 fig. 42-43 (1969), Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 23 (1984),Manickam and Irudayutraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 48 (1992).Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 6 (1998).Ophioglossum gracillimum Hook. & Baker, Syn. Fil.: 445 (1868); Burrows J.E., S.Afr. Ferns: 40, fig. 9, t. 5 (1990); R.J. Johns, Pterid. Trop. E. Afr.: 8 (1991); J.E.Burrows in Bothalia 23: 186, t. 2(1993).Rhizome subglobose to cylindrical, tuberous, upto 4mm, thick, roots few tonumerous, descending, not proliferous. Leaves 1 to 3, stipe1.5–2 cm long, much ofits length is subterranean, stipe bases not persistent; lamina mid-green, more orless perpendicular to the ground, linear-elliptic to linear, often shallowly falcate,the sterile lamina flat and the fertile lamina slightly folded or concave above, 1.6–3.0 x 0.5–1.3 mm, apex sharply acute, apiculate, base narrowly attenuate;venation linear throughout with a few included veinlets; epidermal cells elongate,longer medially, with wavy cell walls; stomata strongly aligned. Fertile spike 3–4.5 cm long, with 6–12pairs of sporangia. Plate 4, Exicatta SUKV-902

DISTRIBUTION

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, Mandya and Belgaum

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BELGAUM AppachiwadiNOTE: Very rare in Karnataka (Rajgopal and Bhat, 1998) as well inSouth India (Manickam and Irudayuraj, 1992), collected from asingle location (Appachiwadi) from the district. The O.

graminium has a fragile rhizome which put an emphasis on theimportance of its conservation. The plant grows in grasslandsmingled with O. nudicaule population and is prone to the cattlegrazing. The species need urgent attention for conservation.ORDER MARATTIALES

2. FAMILY MARATTIACEAE

2.1 ANGIOPTERIS HOFF. Comm. Soc. Reg. Sc. Gott. 23 (1973-1974)2.1.1 ANGIOPTERIS EVECTA (G. FORST.) HOFFM. Commentat. Soc. Regiae Sci.Gott. 12: 29, t. 5 (1794), Beddome, Ferns S. India t. 78 (1864); Handb. Ferns. Br.Ind. 46 (1883); Dixit, Cens. Pterid. Ind. 2 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills,15 (1986), Manickam and Irudayuraj Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 57(1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 7 (1998).Rhizome erect, ascending, or creeping, about 25 cm in diameter, apex demselycovered by brouwn hairs. Fronds monomorphic and long-lived, simple orcompound, Lamina bipinnate, 2–3 m; stipe smooth; pinnae 60–80 × 20–30 cm.Stipe fleshy, with a pair of stipule-like appendages at base often withconspicuous lenticels. Pulvini at base of fronds, at nodes, at base of pinnae, with15–20 pairs of pinnules; pinnules 10–20 × 2–6 cm, bases cuneate, marginsserrate to sharply serrate, apices acuminate to caudate, costa slightly raisedabove and below, simple and forked ones. Veins sparse free, simple or bifurcateto reticulate, reching the margin; pinnae dark green, glabrous except occurrenceof few small pale brown, soft, laciniate scales on costa below; textureherbaceous, Sori submarginal and ellipsoid, superficial, sunken or stalked;elongate along veins, bilateral or radial lacking true indusia, 2–3 mm from

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margin, composed of 14–25 sporangia, Sporangia partially or completely fusedinto synangia, dehiscing by a slit or pore. Plate 5, Exicatta SUKV-903

DISTRIBUTION

KARANATAKA Chikmangalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga, Uttar KanadaBELGAUM KankumbhiNOTE The species is reported from the streams of Kankumbi. Thepopulation of the species is healthy and stable regeneratingnaturally. No special care is intended to be initiated forconservation. Only protection of in situ population is theurgent need of the time.CLASS POLYPODIOPSIDA

ORDER OSMUNDALES

3. FAMILY OSMUNDACEAE

3.1 OSMUNDA L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1063–10673.1.1 OSMUNDA HUGELIANA L. Suppl. Tent. Pterid. 64, 1845. Manickam, FernFl. Palni Hills, 17 (1986), Manickam and Irudayuraj Pterid. Fl. WesternGhats S. India, 59 (1992).Osmunda regalis L. Sp. Pl. 1065 (1753); V.E. 2: 64 (1908). Beddome, Ferns S.India 26 t. 76 (1864); Handb. Ferns. Br. Ind. 550 t. 276 (1883); Panigrahi andDixit, J. Ind. Bot. Soc. 48:95(1969); Dixit, Cens. Pterid. Ind. 2 (1984). Jamir andRao, Ferns Nagaland, 41 (1988), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 7 (1998).Rhizome erect to suberect, upto 5 cm in diameter, scales absent; stipes tufted,many, rufous brown to glabrous, glossy, shallowly grooved above and roundedbelow, bearing mucilage secreting stuipular flaps at swollen bases. Frondserect, 0.6–1.5 m tall, with a rufous tomentum when young, becoming glabrousat maturity. Lamina lanceolate, bipinnate, 55 x 30 cm, with the fertile pinnaeborne in one fourth to one sixth of apical portion. Sterile pinnules up to sixpairs, 6x1.5 cm, alerhnate to subopposite, shortly stalked, 10 cm apart,herbaceous to thinly coriaceous, more or less ovate or very narrowly to

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narrowly oblong, obtuse to broadly acute, unequally truncate at the base,minutely crenulate, petiolate except for adnate pinnules towards the apices ofthe pinnae. Fertile pinnules compressed, panicle forming, cylindrical 2.5 x 0.4cm, linear, petiolate or adnate, bearing groups of large spherical sporangia atall over the branches. Plate 6, Exicatta SUKV-904

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikmangalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga, Uttar KanadaBELGAUM KankumbiNOTE: O. hugeliana has colonized the rocky banks and the rocks insome streams of Kankumbi forests. The species is endemic toSouth India and had been reported as O. regalis in many of the.

O. hugeliana is distributed widely in Southern and CentralIndia with few threats impacting its status, hence is assessedas Least Concern (Iruduyuraj, 2011) because though thepoplulations of the species are confined to a restricted area,they seem to be patchy and few but healthy and stable.O. regalis bears sporangia at intervals on fertile fronds whileO. hugeliana has sporangia at all over the branches.

ORDER GLEICHENIALES

4. FAMILY GLEICHENIACEAE.

4.1 DICRANOPTERIS BERNH. Neues J. Bot. 1(2): 38–39 (1805)4.1.1 DICRANOPTERIS LINEARIS (BURM. F.) UNDERW in Bull. Torrey Bot. Cl.34: 250 (1907); Panigrahi and Dixit Bull. Bot. Surv. Ind. 13:163 (1971);Dixit, Cens. Pterid. Ind. 31 (1984). Jamir and Rao, Ferns Nagaland, 41(1988), Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 65 (1986), Manickam andIrudayuraj Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 157 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 14 (1998).Plants terrestrial or epilithic. Rhizome brown, rooting at irregular intervals, 1–5mm in diameter. Fronds 1–1.8 m long, spaced 6–20 cm apart, erect or scandent,with indeterminate growth; stipe firm, yellow to brown, stramineous higher up,

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bifurcate to reniform-lunate in outline with 1–3 levels of false dichotomy in eachlateral branch-system arising from each side of the terminal bud; indumentum ofreddish brown multicellular hairs up to 2 mm long when young, becomingglabrous with age; stipe stramineous to light reddish brown, up to 70 cm long, andup to 4 mm in diameter, glabrous; accessory branches with deeply pinnatifidlamina up to 12 cm long, 4 cm wide, flanking primary and often secondary (rarelytertiary) pseudo-dichotomies; intermediate branch-axes devoid of foliarsegments, but sometimes clothed with an evanescent tomentum of mattedreddish hairs; stipule-like structures at bases of primary branches ca. 1 cm long;aborted apical buds clothed with reddish brown multicellular hairs; foliarsegments, linear, sessile, confluent at their broadened bases, apices emarginate,glabrous. Sori superficial, consisting of a single sporangium or groups of 2–10sporangia. Plate 7, Exicatta SUKV-905

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Hassan, Mysore, Shimoga, Dakshin Kannada, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Chorla ghat, Kalmani, Nersa, Surla Ghat, KankumbiNOTE: Terrestrial, often forming extensive stands along forestmargins and along roads, can withstand full sun.ORDER SCHIZAEALES.

5. FAMILY LYGODIACEAE

5.1 LYGODIUM SW. Schrad. J. Bot. 1800 (2):7, 106 (1801)5.1.1 LYGODIUM FLEXUOSUM (L.) SW. in Schrad. J. Bot. 1800 (2):7, 106 (1801);Beddome, Handb. Ferns Br. India, 457, t 283 (1883); Baishya and Rao, Fers &Fern Allies Meghalaya, 37 (1982), Dixit, Cens. Pterid. Ind. 60 (1984). Jamir andRao, Ferns Nagaland, 136 (1988), Manickam and Irudayuraj Pterid. Fl.Western Ghats S. India, 61 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 7 (1998).Ophioglossum flexuosum L. Sp. Pl. 1063 (1753).

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Rahizome short creeping, ca. 0.5-0.7 cm in diameter, scaly; scales uniseriate,dark brown. Stipes closely arranged, ca. 50-60 cm, dark brown, hairy at base,straminous and glabrous above. Primary rachis branches not elongated.Secondary rachis-branches bearing alternate pinnately arranged leaflets, usually3 or 4 sometimes 5 or 6 on each side and a simple or forked terminal leaflet, thewhole being 15–30 cm long. Basal leaflets often with large basal lobes,sometimes with two or three separate leaflets at the base. Largest leaflet 4–12 x1–2.5 cm on hairy winged stalks 3–8 mm long, broadly rounded to cordate at thebase and more-or-less distinctly jointed to the end of the stalk, narrowedgradually to the apex, edges of sterile leaflets finely toothed, texture thin butfirm. Lobes of the ultimate segments bear sori; sporangia abaxial, solitary, oneper sorus, sporangium covered by an antrorse indusium-like subtending flange;spores tetrahedral & trilete; gametophytes green, cordate, surficial. Plate 8,

Exicatta SUKV-906

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Kodagu, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kankumbi, Ramnagar-Anmode Rd, Nersa-Anmod Rd.NOTE: L. flexuosum is a robust species, spreading by rhizomes as wellas climbing and scrambling over vegetation.ORDER SALVINIALES

6. FAMILY SALVINIACEAELeaves of two kinds: one type floating, green, with midrib, the other finelydissected, submersed, root like ……............................................................ 6.1 SalviniaLeaves minute, imbricate, tetragonal, about 1 mm long …….……….. 6.2 Azolla

6.1 SALVINIA SEBUIR. Fl. Veron, 3:52 (1754)6.1.1 SALVINIA MOLESTA MITCH. Br. Fern, Gaz. 10:251: (1973); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid. 174 (1984); Madhusoodanan, Proc. Int. Symp. Syst. Pterid. (Beijing)

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61, fig 6 (1989), Manickam and Irudayuraj, Fern Fl. Western Ghats S. India,344 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 25 (1998).Free floating, small. Stems horizontal, slender, covered with hairs and protostele.Fronds sessile or very shortly stipitate; fronds 3, verticillate, two fronds floatingon water surface, normally elongate, green, entire, hairy, and densely coveredwith papillae on upper surface, costae slightly distinct; other frond submersedand finally dissected and rootlike rhizoid. Sori clustered at stipe bases ofsubmersed fronds, or double attached along submersed ones; microsporocarplarge and containing majority of mega and microsporangia. Plate 9, Exicatta

SUKV-907

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, MysoreBELGAUM: Belgaum, KottekereNOTE: S. molesta has eutrophicated many lakes in the world andneeds a special attention of environmental policy makers. InBelgaum district the species was repored at standing watersin Belgaum, Gokak and Naviltirtha, but no population wasserious from the point of being a nuisance to the habitats.6.2 AZOLLA LAM. Encycl. 1(1): 3436.2.1 AZOLLA PINNATA R. BR. Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl.: 167 (1810). ); Dixit, Cens.Ind. Pterid. 174 (1984); Manickam and Irudayuraj, Fern Fl. Western Ghats S.India, 345 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 25 (1998).Plants often reddish, triangular, with main stem up to 2– 3 cm. long, 0.2 mm. indiameter, horizontal, minutely papillate, repeatedly alternately branched and witha few fascicles of 2– 3 roots at intervals; trichomes single-celled. Roots up to 3.5cm. long, hairy with a long conspicuous root-cap. Upper leaf-lobe ovate to broadlyelliptic, up to 1.1 mm. long, with a papillate green central portion surrounded by ahyaline border; lower lobe similar but hyaline. Microsporocarps borne singly or

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subtended by a megasporocarp, only partly covered by a hyaline lower leaflet.Megasporocarps up to 0.8 mm. long with a prominent dark apex and containing asingle granular megaspore surmounted by numerous flotation bodies.Microsporocarps spherical, up to 1.7 mm. diameter with a minute dark apex andcontaining numerous long-stalked microsporangia. Massulae of microspores withfew or no weak outgrowths. Megasporoderm with irregular prostrate rods withhairs on collar only. Plate 10, Exicatta SUKV-908

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Dharwad, Hassan, Kodagu, MysoreBELGAUM: Kottekere, KhanapurNOTE: A. pinnata grows well in standing waters and has beenreported in the paddy fields on the road to Jamboti fromKhanapur and in Naviltirtha. The population was scanty anddoesnot seem to have problem to the habitats.ORDER CYATHEALES7. FAMILY CYATHEACEAE7.1 CYATHEA7.1.1 CYATHEA CRINITA (HOOK) COPEL. In Philipp. J. Sci. Ser. C: 440 (1909);Holttum (1974); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 93 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. PalniHills, 70 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India,163 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 7 (1998).Aslophila criniata Hook., Ic. Plant 7, t. 671 (1844); Spec. Fil. 1:54 (1844);Beddome, Ferns S. India, t.59 (1864), Hand. Ferns Br. India, 16 (1883).Trunks 6-10 m tall, 15 cm in diameter, with close set of leaf bases; scales denselycovering the apex of trunk, young and mature fronds, linear - lanceolate,uniformly golden yellow, apex long acuminate, margin bearing short, stiff darkbrown ascending setae. Stipes persistent, 40-70 cm long, 1-2 cm across,greenish, purplish towards the base, fronds tripinnatifid to tripinnate; pinnae45-60 cm long, the lower pinnae much shortened (15-20 cm long); scales

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flabelloid with a median band of elongate, thick walled cells with fragile margins;pinnules 8-10 cm long, shor-stalked, the margins serrate; veins usually once-forked (sometimes in groups of 3 or 4); upper surface hispid alng rachis,rachillae and costae; lower surface glabrous with small thin ovate or irregularscales along costae and veins; stipe scales brown, shiny, 20 mm long, 1.5 mmwide, margins dull. Sori round, large, in rows on either side of casta; indusia thin,membranceous, globose, fugacious. Plate 11, Exicatta SUKV-909

DISTRIBUTION

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Charmadi, KodaguBELGAUM KankumbiNOTE C. criniata is at risk in the Western Ghats as the species is facinghabitat destruction and young plants are the targets of the botanyenthusiasts.ORDER POLYPODIALES

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF POLYPODIALES1. Sporangia following the veins sori on margin or back of fronds (not acrostichoid).2. Sporangia in indefinite sori, undersurface glabrous, farinose, densely coveredwith a mass of brown hairs or sparingly with scales ………………… 10. Adiantaceae2. Sporangia in definite sori or coenosori.3. Sori with a true indusia, or covered by the more or less modified reflexedleaf margin.6. Sori marginal or submarginal.7. Rhizomes, stipes, rachis and often underurface of lamina covered withunicellular or multicellular hairs ….…………………..…… 9. Dennstaedtiaceae7. Rhizomes and stipes scaly, at least at base; scales sometimes very narrow.8. Indusia opening towards margin. ….………………..…… 8. Lindsaeaceae8. Indusia opening away from margin.9. Fronds strongly dimorphic, fertile fronds brown, pinnate, fertilepinnae much contracted; indusia folded back nearly to costa, sterilefronds pinnate ...................................................................... 16. Blechnaceae9. Fronds usually monomorphic, if dimorphic, the fertile frondsgreen; lamina pinnate to decompound.

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10. Sporangia borne on the reflexed marginal lobes ……….……................................................................................................. 10. Adiantaceae10. Sporangia protected by the reflexed margin ….. 11. Pteridaceae6. Sori dorsal, or if with some of the sori borne near the margin, also havingmany sori not borne near the margin.11. Sori linear, straight or curved.12. Sori parallel to costae costules ......................................... 16. Blechnaceae12. Sori parallel to the oblique veinlets.13. Basal stipes scales clathrate; the two vascular strands at base ofstipe uniting in upper stipe to form a single X shaped strand;indusia single, linear ........................................................ 12. Aspleniaceae13. Basal stipe scales opaque; the two vascular strands at base of stipeuniting above to form a single U shaped strand; indusia curved, Jshaped or reniform and crossing a veinlet …….... 14. Athyriaceae(excluding Diplazium)11. Sori round.14. Rachis grooved on dorsal side, open to admit rachilla grooves15. Indusial reniform and attached by sinus or round and peltatelyattached ........................................................................................... 17. Dryopteridaceae15. Indusia J shaped or reniform and crossing a veinlet ..................………....................................................................... 14. Athyriaceae (excluding Diplazium)14. Rachis without a dorsal groove or if grooved, not open to admitrachila grooves ……………………………………………...………. 18. Tectariaceae3. Sori exindusiate, superficial, or sometimes sunken or born in grooves, notcovered by a reflexed leaf margin.4. Fronds simple, pinnatifid or pinnate, without hirsute hairs on stipe or leafmargin .................................................................................................................... 20. Polypodiaceae4. Fronds bipinnatifid to decompound; sori round or oblong; indusia, ifpresent, soon fugacious.5. Fronds glabrous. ........................................................................... 14. Athyriaceae5. Fronds bearing unicellular hairs, especially abundant on the dorsalside of costa .......................................................................................... 15. Thelypteridaceae1. Sporangia acrostichoid or covering the back of the fronds.16. Rhizome short; stipes approximate or tufted .............. 19. Lomariopsidaceae16. Rhizome creeping; stipes distant .................................. 20. Polypodiaceae (p.p.)

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39

8. FAMILY LINDSAEACEAE

Key to the generaSori terminal on 1-3 veinlet(s) ends; spores mostly monolete. ………OdontosoriaSori terminal on 3 or more veinlets spores mostly trilete …………….……. Lindsaea

8.1 ODONTOSORIA FÉE Gen. Fil. 5: 325 (1852).8.1.1 ODONTOSORIA CHINENSIS (L.) J. SMITH Bot. Voy. Herald. 430 (1857).Sphenomeris chinensis (L.) Maxon in J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 3:144 (1913); Contr. U.S.Natl. Herb. 17:159 (1913); C. Chr., Ind. Fil. Suppl. 2:31 (1917); Dixit, Cens.Ind. Pterid. 102 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 54 (1986),Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 121 (1992),Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 12 (1998).Trichomanes chinensis L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1099. (1753).Rhizome short creeping, branched closely and irregularly bearing roots on theabaxial side, two alternate rows of fronds on adaxial side, densely covered byhair like scales all over, pale or dark brown, multicellular, stipes scattered,terete or shallowly grooved above, upto 35cm long, densely scaly at very base,glabrous and polished above. Lamina lanceolate, 40x15cm, cuneate, auminate,about one third of distal part of lamina progressively narrowed. Primarypinnae about 10 pairs, ascending, basal one or two pairs sub opposite othersalternate, distinctly stalked ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, acroscopic basetruncate. Secondary pinnae about eight pairs per primary pinna, ascending,anadromous, alternate, shortly stalked, apex rounded in outline; veins obscureabove and below, forked free; lamina pale green, brownish when dry, glabrouson abaxially and adaxially sides, herbaceous. Sori submarginal at vein end ofeach lobe. Plate 12, Exicatta SUKV-909

DISTRIBUTION

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Dakshin Kannada, Kodagu, ShimogaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kankumbi, Nersa- Anmode Road

TAXONOMY

40

8.2 LINDSAEA DRYAND. Sm., Acad. Turin 5: 413. 1793Lamina 1-pinnate, terminal pinna conforming to the lateral ones……. L. ensifoliaLamina bipinnate, without a terminal pinna, upper pinnae gradually becomingsmaller towards apex ……………….………………………….…………….…… L. heterophylla

8.2.1 LINDSAEA ENSIFOLIA SW. Schrad., Journ. Bot. 1800, 2: 77 (1801); Clarke,Trans. Linn. Soc. II Bot. 1:452 (1880); Wagner, J. Amer. Fern J. 61:49-58(1971); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 99 (1984); Jamir and Rao, Ferns Nagaland, 229(1988); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 125 (1992),Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 11 (1998).Schizolegnia ensifolia Sw. Alston, in Bol. Soc. Brot., Sér. 2, 30: 24 (1956).Schizolama ensifolia Sw. J. Sm., in Hook., Lond. Journ. Bot. 3: 414 (1841).Beddome, Ferns S. India t. 25 (1864); Handb. Ferns Br. India 80 t. 41 (1883).Rhizome long-creeping, 3mm in diameter, densely covered all over with narrowscales; scales ovate to lanceolate, pale brown in colour, 2-6 cells wide at base andacicular at apex, appressed. Stipe 10-30 cm long, quadrangular, castaneous; with ashallow groove on all sides except abaxial side, dark to purplish brown, glabrous.Fronds approximate or distant, 0.5-1 cm apart; lamina obovate upto 22x18 cm,simply pinnate, terminal pinnae analogous to the lateral one, herbaceous topapyraceous; pinnae narrowly lanceolate, 1-8 pairs, subopposite at base andalternate upwards, shortly stalked, broadly cuneate at base, acuminate at apex,entire or serrate in sterile pinnae; largest pinnae 20 x 2 cm, ovate to lanceolate,margin entire in fertile pinnae, finely serrate or wavy in sterile ones, veins slightlydistinct above, conpiously anastomosing below, veinlets uniting to two rows ofareoles along each side of costae, texture herbaceous. Sori marginal, terminal onveinlets except at the very base, linear and continuous; indusiate, indusial thin,pale brown. Plate 13, Exicatta SUKV-910.

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Shimoga, Dakshin Kannada, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM: Jamboti, Kankumbi

TAXONOMY

41

8.2.1 LINDSAEA HETEROPHYLLA BEDD. Beddome, Ferns S. India, 70 t. 206(1864); Handb. Ferns Br. India, 77 (1833); Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 129 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind.Fern J. 15: 127 (1998).Rhizome short-creeping, 3mm in diameter, densely covered with triangularnarrow scales; scales uniformly dark brown, three to five seriate at baseuniseriate above. Fronds approximate. Stipes 15-25 cm long, subterete at baseand quadrangular upwards, castaneous below and pale brown or stramineousabove; lamina 15-30 X 6-14 cm, lanceolate to ovate-triangular, bipinnate, pinnaeup to 14x5 cm, imparipinnate, acuminate apex, upper pinnae graduallybecoming smaller towards apex, without terminal pinnae, herbaceous; pinnaemorphologically variable, ovate, rhomboid, flabellate, or deltoid-lanceolate, 10-25 pairs, subopposite at base and alternate upwards, usually sessile, broadlycuneate at base, obtuse or acuminate at apex, subentire or erose at margin; veinsslightly distinct below and indistinct above, forked 1-3 times, free, endingsubmarginally in sterile pinnae, dark green in colour, texture herbaceous. Sorimarginal, terminal, linear, continuous or interrupted in lobed pinnules; indusialpale green papery. Plate 14, Exicatta SUKV-911

DISTRIBUTION

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Dakshin Kannada, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Kankumbi9. FAMILY DENNSTAEDTIACEAE

KEY TO GENERA1. Sori linear, continuous along the margin of lamina ……………………. Pteridium2. Sori pouch shaped, not continuous along the margin of lamina …... Microlepia

9.1 PTERIDIUM GLOTITSCH EX SCOPOLI Fl. Carniol. 169 (1760)9.1.1 PTERIDIUM REVOLUTUM (BLUME) NAKAI Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 39: 109.1925.

TAXONOMY

42

Pteridium aquilina L. in Blatter & d’Almeida, Ferns Bombay, 92 (1922).Pteridium aquilinum(L.) Kuhn, v. Reis. 3(3):11 (1879), Beddome, Handb. FernsBr. India 31 (1883), Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 98 (1984); Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 110 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 11 (1998).Rhizome long creeping, subterranean, upto 2.5 cm in diameter, densely coveredby multicellular, uniseriate, pale brown hairs. Stipes dark brown to black andhairy at the base, pale brown and glabrous above, abaxially round and adaxiallygrooved. Fronds subleathery when dried, margins revolute; stipe straw-coloredor brown, 35–50 cm, 5–8 mm in diam. at base, adaxially grooved, densely clothedwith pallid hairs when young, glabrous when old; lamina broadly deltoid toovate-triangular, ca. 150x70 cm, tripinnate-pinnatifid, acuminate; bipinnatifiedtowards the apex, pinnae 4–6 pairs, opposite, decumbent, stalked, oblong, basesubtruncate, apex acuminate; basal pinnae slightly triangular, 30x15 cm, stalked,bipinnate-pinnatifid; pinnules 12–14 pairs per primay pinnae, opposite oralternate, spreading, sessile, base not adnate to costule, lanceolate, 6–8x 1–1.5cm, base truncate, deeply pinnate, apex shortly caudate-acuminate; segments ca.18 - 20 pairs per seconday pinnule, opposite or alternate, slightly obliquelyspreading, lanceolate-falcate, ca. 8 mm, base ca. 3 mm wide, connate, often entire,apex obtuse or acute; apical pinnae 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, lanceolate; segmentsapproximate, with pallid or light brown hairs abaxially; veins prominentabaxially, grooved adaxially; rachises, costae, and costules approximate, withpallid or light brown hairs or tuberculate, glabrescent. Sori linear, submarginal,about 1 mm from margin. Plate 15, Exicatta SUKV-912

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Hassan, Kodagu, Mysore, ShimogaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kalmani, Kankumbi, Sada

TAXONOMY

43

NOTE: This is one of the few authentically reported species fromBelgaum areas. Blatter and d’Almeida (1922) reported thisspecies as P. aquilina L. from Kanor (Belgaum). The criticalanalysis by C. R. Frazer Jenkins suggested that the species isP. revolutum (Blume) Nakai and not P. aquilinum (L.) Kuhn.P. revolutum differ from having revolute margin over entiremargin in P. aquilinum.

9.2 MICROLEPIA PRESL. Tent. Pterid 124 (1836)9.2.1 MICROLEPIA SPELUNCAE (L.) MOORE Ind. Fil. 93 (1857), Beddome, Handb.Ferns Br. India, 67 (1833); Blatter & d’Almeida, Ferns Bombay, 48 (1922),Sledge, Kew Bull. 3:324 (1956); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 96 (1984); Manickam,Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 52 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. WesternGhats S. India, 119 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 11 (1998).Rhizome long creeping, branched, pale brown, tubular hairs all over. Stipesscattered, grey-green below, pale brown above when fresh, grey-brownthroughout when dry, rounded below grooved above, hairy at base, glabrousabove. Lamina broadly deltoid ovate, tripinnatified or quadripunnate, primarypinnae about eight pairs, ascending, distinctly staked, subopposite at the base,alternate above, along lanceolate, acuminate. Secondary pinnae about 20pairs, slightly ascending anadromous, sessile, alternate, oblong, assymetrical,oblique, margin lobed upto the costule; veins slightly distinct, forked once, notreaching the margin, lamina usually pubescent above and below, dark green,texture soft, herbaceous, sori submarginal, usually on the basal acroscopicvein end of each lobe. Plate 16, Exicatta SUKV-913

DISTRIBUTIONKARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Belgaum (Ornamental)

TAXONOMY

44

10. FAMILY ADIANTACEAE

10.1 ADIANTUM L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1094–1097 (1753)KEY TO THE SPECIES1. Fronds simply pinnate2. Fronds rooting by apical bud, pinnae densely hairy all over........... A. incisum2. Fronds not rooting by apical bud, pinnae glabrous ..................... A. phillipense1. Fronds pinnately branched with obovate pinnules. ......................... A. raddianum

10.1.1 ADIANTUM INCISUM FORSSK. Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 187 (1775); Pic. Serm.in Webbia 12: 669 (1957); Schippers in Fern Gaz. 14: 183 (1993); Dixit,Cens. Ind. Pterid.75(1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 36 (1986),Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 97 (1992),Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 10 (1998).Rhizome short, erect, ca. 1.6 cm in diameter, with tufted fronds and withbrown subulate rhizome-scales c. 4 mm long. Stipe castaneous to black, up to9 cm long, with numerous brown hairs. Fronds up to 12 cm long, arching,membranous, often proliferous at the apex of a naked extension of therhachis. Lamina up to 28x6 cm, oblong to lanceolate, pinnate, attenuate;pinnae more or less rectangular or the uppermost ones obcuneate towardsthe apex of the frond, up to 2 x 1 cm, coarsely crenate-lobulate along upperand outer margins but not deeply incised, rounded at apex, straight alonglower margin, the apical pinna obtriangular, all glabrous; pinna-stalklets ca.0.5 mm long. Sori borne at the apices of the pinna lobes, in basal half of uppermargin, oblong with curved lower margin, 2–4 per pinna, the 2 near therhachis sometimes contiguous, glabrous; indusial flaps lunate to oblong,glabrous to thinly pilose. Plate 17, Exicatta SUKV-916

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bidar, Chitradurga, Chikamagalur, Hassan, Mysore, TumkurBELGAUM Jamboti, Kankumbi

TAXONOMY

45

10.1.2 ADIANTUM PHILLIPPENSE L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1094 (1753). Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid. 75 (1984).A. lunulatum Burm. f. Fl. Ind.: 235 (1768); Hook. & Bak., Syn. Fil.: 114 (1867) proparte; Kuhn, Fil. Afr.: 65 (1868); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. WesternGhats S. India, 98 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 10 (1998).Rhizome short, suberect or creeping with tufted fronds and with dark-brownsubulate rhizome-scales ca. 3 mm long. Stipe castaneous, up to 15 cm long,glabrous. Frond arching, herbaceous, often proliferous at the apex. Lamina upto 42 x9.5 cm, lanceolate in outline, pinnate; pinnae up to 2 x 4.6 cm, mostlyvery broadly oblong to rhombic, more reduced and obcuneate towards theapex of the frond, borne on slender castaneous petioles up to 1.8 cm long,shallowly incised along the acroscopic margin into truncate lobes, glabrous onboth surfaces. Sori borne on the apices of the pinna lobes; indusial linear toshallowly lunate, glabrous. Plate 18, Exicatta SUKV-916

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga, Dakshin Kannada, UttarKannada, Tumkur, MysoreBELGAUM Appachiwadi, Tavandi Ghat, Gokak, Vajrapoha, Saundatti,Jamboti, Kalmani, Kankumbi, Devaraayi, Sada, Gawali, Nersa,Londa-Ramanagar Road, Sutgatti, Chorla ghat.NOTE Owing to its wide range of habitats, the size and texture of thisspecies are highly variable. Pinnae become larger and thinnerin deep shade, and in open areas rocky substratum the plantsbecome dwarfed.10.1.3 ADIANTUM RADDIANUM C. PRESL. Tent. Pterid.: 158 (1836) & in Abh.Königl. Böhm. Ges. Wiss. IV, 5: 158 (1837); Verdc. in Journ. E. Afr. Nat.Hist. Soc. 24: 73 (1964); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid.76 (1984); Manickam, FernFl. Palni Hills, 40 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. WesternGhats S. India, 102 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 10 (1998).

TAXONOMY

46

Rhizome short creeping, much branched, slender; 2 mm in diameter, scalesbrown, firmly chartaceus, castaneus, adnate, subulate to narrowly triangular,entire to denticulate, apex terminates in a short subulate cell. Fronds tufted, erector pendulous, 3–4 pinnate, irregularly or dichotomously arranged; stipe andrhachis dark brown, glabrous; pinnules typically obtriangular, cuneate at the basebut in cultivars exceedingly varied in shape and size, crenate-serrate, glabrous;rachis and lower order axes atrocastaneus, nitid, terete, glabrous; pinnaepetiolate, alternate, basal pinnae largest, more widely spaced than apically,usually overlapping, to 2-pinnate, ovate, pinnules petiolate, usually overlapping,ovate, with up to 5 segment pairs; ultimate segments petiolate, alternate, thinlyherbaceous, flabellate, narrowly to broadly cuneate, variously lobed, lobesdentate, glabrous adaxially and abaxially. Venation seen on both the surfaces,flabellately forked, ending in margin in sinus between teeth. Sori round tokidney-shaped, situated in the marginal sinuses. Plate 19, Exicatta SUKV-917

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Kodagu, Mysore, ShimogaBELGAUM Jamboti, Khanapur, Vajrapoha Falls, Devaraayi, Gawali, Sada,NersaNOTE: Terrestrial or epilithic, usually in disturbed sites such asearthbanks along roads, but often also in undisturbedhabitats, usually in light shade. Vegetative reproduction bysubterranean, short-creeping and branched rhizome.10.2 ANOGRAMMA LINK. Fil. Spec. 137 (1841)10.2.1 ANOGRAMMA LEPTOPHYLLA (L.) LINK. Fil. Sp.: 137 (1841); Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 9 (1998).Gymnogramma leptophylla (L.) Desv., in Ges. Naturf. Berl. Mag. 5: 305 (1811),Beddome, Ferns S. India, 77 (1864), Blatter & d’Almeida, Ferns Bombay,175 (1922).

TAXONOMY

47

Rhizomes small, short; scales few, pellucid. Fronds tufted; stipe chestnutbrown, 2-5 cm x 0.5-1 mm, glabrous or occasionally with 1 or 2 pellucid andjointed long hairs; lamina yellowish green, ovate-deltoid to ovate-lanceolate,4-8 x 1.5-3 cm, nearly membranous when dry, glabrous, bipinnate tobipinnatifid. Basal pinnae usually larger than adjacent ones; distal pinnaegradually reduced. Ultimate pinnules or segments small, ovate-elliptic,spatulate, or obovate, margin entire, or shallowly lobed at apex. Veins visibleon both surfaces, free, forked, far from frond margins. Sori borne alongveinlets, ex-indusiate, paraphyses absent. Plate 20, Exicatta SUKV-918

DISTRIBUTIONKARNATAKA: ChikamagalurBELGAUM: Kankumbi10.3 HEMIONITIS L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1077 (1753)10.3.1 HEMIONITIS ARIFOLIA (BURM F.) MOORE. Ind. Fil. 114. (1859);Beddome, Handb. Ferns. Brit. India, 413 (1883); Blatter & d’Almeida, FernsBombay, 180 (1922); Holtum, Fl. Mal. 2: 596. (1954); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid.79 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 34 (1986), Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 93 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat,Ind. Fern J. 15: 9 (1998).Rhizome erect, densely covered by scales, scales ovate to lanceolate, dark atcentre, whitish at the periphery and entire. Stipes compact, numerous, darkbrown to black, polished, brittle, densely scaly all over when young, sparselywhen mature, those of fertile are longer than of sterile ones. Lamina simple,dimorphic, cordiform, deltoid, trilobed, margin entire. Sterile fronds heart-shaped, ovate, with a deep notch at the base, apex and basal lobes rounded;fertile fronds arrow head-shaped with the basal notch not so deep and thebasal lobes and the apex more pointed, veins obscure both above and below,.Adaxial surface dark green, naked, abaxial surface pale green; hairy, texture

TAXONOMY

48

papery, long, soft, pale brown scales distributed all over the lower surface ofthe sterile laminae, very rare on adaxial side of fertile and sterile laminae.Venation reticulated, meshes obliquely elongated and rarely having freeincluded veinlets. Sori continuous along the veins and reticulate, intermixedwith hairs and scales. Plate 21, Exicatta SUKV-919

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Bangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga, DakshinKannada, Uttar Kannada, Tumkur, MysoreBELGAUM JambotiNOTE Common species throughout South part of Western Ghats, butuncommon in Northern Western Ghats.11. FAMILY PTERIDACEAE

SUB FAMILY - PARKERIACEAE

11.1 CERATOPTERIS BRONGN. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 1821: 186 (1822).11.1.1 CERATOPTERIS THALICTROIDES (L.) BROUGN. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom.Paris, sér. 3, 1821: 186, tt. 3–4 (1821), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 9(1998).Rhizome short, erect, with tufted fronds and sparse brown scales. Stipe up to16 cm. long, succulent, brittle when fresh, eventually glabrous. Frond erect toarching, succulent, brittle, dimorphous. Sterile lamina up to 20 x 7 cm, oblong,ovate or narrowly triangular in outline, usually 2-pinnatifid into acute toobtuse triangular or lanceolate lobes, glabrous on both surfaces. Fertilelamina up to 24 x 12 cm narrowly to broadly ovate in outline usually 3-pinnatifid into narrowly linear acute lobes up to 4 x 0.1–0.15 cm, glabrous onboth surfaces. Sporangia borne sparsely along the veins, indusium marginal,entire, membranous. Plate 22, Exicatta SUKV-914

DISTRIBUTION:KARNATAKA Bijapur, Chitradurga, Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysore,Tumkur, Uttar Kannada

TAXONOMY

49

BELGAUM Jamboti – Kankumbi RoadNOTE: C. thalictroides grows in paddy fields on the Belgaum to Jambotiand Kankumbi road.SUBFAMILY SINOPTERIDACEAE

11.2 CHEILANTHES SW.Syn. Fil. 5, 126 (1806).11.2.1 CHEILANTHES TENUIFOLIA (BURM F.) SW. Syn. Fil.: 129, 332 (1806);Beddome, Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 92 (1883); Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 93 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. FernJ. 15: 9 (1998).Rhizome short creeping, densely scaly at the apex, scales lanceolate, uniformlypale brown, acuminate, entire. Stips crowded, purple-black, rounded below,groved above, glabrous and glossy above, scaly below. Lamina ovate ortriangular, qadripinnate below, tri-pinnatifid; pinnules linear-acuminate,segments oblong lanceolate, apex acuminate, base cuneate; primary pinnaeabout four to five pairs, ascending, opposite or subopposite, distinctly stalked,secondary pinnae larger, tertiary pinnae pinnatified upto mid rib, ultimatelobes ovate, entire or shallowly lobed; veins slightly distinct, forked once ortwice, free, pinnae dark green, glabrous on both the sides, texture almostmembranaceous, sori circular, eventually confluent, marginal on each lobe,dark brown in colour. Plate 23, Exicatta SUKV-920

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Sada, Godachinmalki falls, Londa, Nersa, DevrayeeNOTE Grows luxiriently well in open areas at relative higherelevations. The plants get un-noticed in the grasslands.11.3 ALEURITOPTERIS FÉE Mem. Foug., Gen. Filic. 153–154 (1850-1852).11.3.1 ALEURITOPTERIS ANCEPS (BLANF.) PANIGRAHI Bull. Bot. Surv. India2: 321. (1961).Cheilanthes anceps Blanf., J. Simla Nat. Soc. 25: 6. (1886).

TAXONOMY

50

C. farinosa Kaulf. var. anceps (Blanf.) Blanf., J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 57(2): 301 (1888),Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 9 (1998).A. farinosa Fee var. anceps (Blanf.) Ching, Hong Kong Nat. 10(3–4): 201 (1941).Rhizomes short creeping, ca. 1 cm in diameter, scales bicolorous, with blackcentral stripe and pale brown margins, lanceolate. Leaves clustered. Stipechestnut-colored, up to 28 cm. long, glabrous or with scales similar to the largerrhizome scales towards the base. Fronds arching, thinly coriaceous or firmlyherbaceous. Lamina oblong or ovate- lanceolate, 10-25 to 5-10 cm, tripinnatifid,texture thin coriaceous when dry, adaxially glabrous, abaxially with whitefarina; rachis with a few scales; pinnae 5 to10 pairs, separated from each otherby wingless rachis, basal pair of pinnae triangular, bipinnatifid; pinnules 5-6pairs, acroscopic ones much smaller, proximal basiscopic pinnules largest,lanceolate, pinnatifid; second and upper pairs of pinnae lanceolate. Veinsobscure. Sori consisting of several sporangia, confluent at maturity. Plate 24,

Exicatta SUKV-921

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Hassan, Kodagu, ShimogaBELGAUM Appachiwadi, Tavandi Ghat, Devaraayi, Belgaum fort, Gokak,Sada, Chorla ghat, Gawali, Nersa, KankumbiNOTE: The species has been mentioned as Cheilanthes farinosa inmost of the literature available for South India.11.4 PITYROGRAMMA LINK. Handb. Erken Gew. 3:19 (1833).11.4.1 PITYROGRAMMA CALOMELANOS (L.) LINK in Handb. Gew, 3:20(1833). Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 33 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 94 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. FernJ. 15: 10 (1998).Rhizome short creeping, ca. 5.5 cm in diameter, scales lanceolate, marginentire, light-brown to yellowish brown, apex long acuminate. Fronds tufted,

TAXONOMY

51

erect to arching, firmly herbaceous to thinly coriaceous; stipe up to 35cm long,black-chestnut, shining at maturity, with a few scales at the base. Laminaoblong-lanceolate, up to 40x15 cm, bipinnate to tripinnatifid, lowest pinnaeunreduced; pinnae lanceolate, opposite to subopposite, 2cm apart, shortlystalked, about 10-12 pairs, 10 x 2.5 cm, apex acuminate, pinnae progressivelyreduced towards apex, pinnule oblong to trapeziform, the larger up to 2.5 x 1cm, slightly auriculate, serrate, acute or acuminate, set at an acute angle to thecosta and with white powder on the lower surface; rhachis blackish-chestnut,shining at maturity. Sori set along the veins, up to 3 mm long; indusium absent.Plate 25, Exicatta SUKV-922

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Gokak, Sada, Gawali, Nersa, Ramnagar-Anmode Rd, Nersa -AnmodRd, Jamboti, Kankumbi,NOTE One of the widespread species of Southern India. Suites almostevery habitat in moist or seasonally moist, usually disturbed habitatssuch as cut earthbanks along roads, culverts and ditches, growing inlight shade or fully exposed.11.5 ACTINIOPTERIS LINK. Fil. Sp. 79 (1841)11.5.1 ACTINIOPTERIS RADIATA (SW.) LINK Fil. Sp. 80 (1841). Dixit, Cens.Ind. Pterid.68 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 27 (1986), Manickam& Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 81 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 8 (1998).Actiniopteris dichotoma Kuhn, Bot. Zeit. 504 (1871); Clarke, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond.II Bot. 1:505 (1880); Beddome, Handb. Ferns Br. India, 197, t. 98 (1883).Rhizome erect to suberect, ca. 2cm in diameter, closely set with roots,persistent stipe bases and bicolorous scales, scales ferrugineus to stramineous,membranous margins, sessile, linear to narrowly lanceolate, base somewhat

TAXONOMY

52

round-auricled, cordate, entire. Fronds crowded, erect, stipe firm, 2mm thick,abaxially deeply grooved, adaxially rounded, proximally brown at base andgreen above, sparsely scaled, scales thin-papery, stramineous, sessile, linear-hastate, entire, apex terminates in an oblong thin-walled cell. Lamina firmlyflabellate, herbaceous, divided into 2 symmetrical halves by a deep mediannotch, each to 4 times dichotomously branched upto 6 times, 3 cm long,declinate when desiccated. Venation adaxially obscure, raised abaxially atmaturity and distict when young, subparelles, dichotomously forked, ending inthe teeth. Sori linear, along outer segment veins, protected by reflexed marginof the segments; indusiate, indusium membranous, entire. Plate 26, Exicatta

SUKV-923

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Bellary, Bidar, Chitradurga, Hassan, Mandya, Mysore,RaichurBELGAUM Appachiwadi, Tavandi Ghat, Gokak, Belgaum fort, Vajrapoha,Saundatti, Jamboti, Khanapur, Kankumbi.NOTE: Epilithic or epiphytic, in rock crevices, at boulder bases, in shallowsoil pockets overlaying sheet rock. Exposed or in light shade.Vegetative reproduction by the short and closely branchedrhizome results in the plants forming small clonal stands. Seasonalpattern pronounced, fertile fronds are produced since August tolate January, usually dormant during the dry summer months.SUBFAMILY PTERIDACEAE

11.6 PTERIS L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1073. 1753Key to the species1. Fronds simply pinnate2. Basal pinnae progressively reduced ................................................ Pteris vittata2. Basal pinnae not reduced ............................................................. Pteris pellucida1. Fronds simply bipinnate or ternately divided and bipinnate

TAXONOMY

53

3. Fronds ternately divided .......................................................... Pteris ensiformis3. Fronds simply bipinnate4. Basal vein anastomosing forming areoles along costa ......... Pteris biaurita4. Basal vein not anastomosing ....................................................... Pteris argyrea

11.6.1 PTERIS VITTATA L. Sp. Pl.: 1074 (1753); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid.73(1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 21 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 68 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. FernJ. 15: 8 (1998).Rhizome suberect to short creeping, 8 mm in diameter, covered with linear-lanceolate pale brown lanceolate scales, apex acuminate, margin entire. Frondstufted, spaced up to 1 cm apart, 0.75 to 1.8 m tall. Stipe up to 20 cm long,abaxially rounded, adaxially groved, pale narrowly lanceolate attenuate scalesat the base. Lamina linear lanceolate, up to 115 x40 cm, opposite tosubopposite, upto 2 cm apart, simply pinnate, sessile, rhachis glabrous orslightly scaly. Pinnae, medium to dull green, glabrous, texture herbaceous, 20–40 pairs, the lowest pinnae reduced, narrowly lanceolate, vary greatly in size,ca. 2–22 cm long and 0.7–1.4 cm wide, attenuate at apex, minutely crenulate,glabrous. Veins obscure, simple or forked once. Sori along the submarginallines for most of the length of pinnae. Plate 27, Exicatta SUKV-924

DISTRIBUTION:KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Kodagu, Mysore, Uttar Kannada.BELGAUM Appachiwadi, Tavandi Ghat, Gokak. Belgaum fort, Vajrapoha,Sada, Gawali, Nersa, Nersa-Anmod Rd, Saundatti, Jamboti,Khanapur, Kankumbi,NOTE: In exposed conditions on earthbanks of road cuttings.11.6.2 PTERIS PELLUCIDA C.PRESL. Rel. Haenk, 1: 55 (1825); Bedd., Ferns S.India T. 38 (1864); Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. Ind. 106 (1883); Dixit, Cens.Ind. Pterid. 71 (1984); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western GhatsS. India, 70 (1992); Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 8 (1998).

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54

Rhizome erect, short, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., scaly at growing tips, scaleslanceolate, pale brown at periphery and dark brown at centre, gland tipped,margin with glandular projections. Stipes 45 cm long, 3mm thick, abaxiallyrounded and adaxially grooved, chestnut brown, distal part yellowish brown,glossy and glabrous all over. Fronds simple; lamina broadly obovate, 35x25cm,simply pinnate with ternate apex, ascending, largest pinna 28x3.5cm,lanceolate, narrowing towards apex, abruptly decurrent at the base, marginssubcartilaginous, costa slightly raised and deeply groved above, raised androunded below, veins right angled to costa, forking at the base, free reachingthe margin, pinnae pale green to dark green, glabrous above and below, texturecoracious. Sori along the margin except at the base and apical region, indusiate,indusia dark brown, margin entire. Plate 28, Exicatta SUKV-925

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikmagalur, Hassan, Mysore, Shimoga, Dakshin Kannada, UttarKannada.BELGAUM Sada, Gawali, Nersa, Jamboti, Kankumbi, Nersa-Anmod Rd.NOTE Common species in open sun along the road sides.11.6.3 PTERIS ENSIFORMIS BURM.F. Fl. Indica, 230 (1768); Beddome, Handb.Ferns Brit. India, 107 (1883).Rhizome short creeping, bearing rather close fronds, about 5 mm diameter,densely scaly; lanceolate with a long tail, brown, entire. Frond distinctlydimorphic. Sterile frond: stipe 7–15 cm long, brown and scaly at base,stramineous upwards, grooved on abaxial surface; lamina oblong, acute at apex,tripinnatifid, about 15x 7 cm; pinnae 2–5 pairs, opposite, with a few pairs ofpinnules and large apical segments; pinnules simple to trifoliolate, the ultimatesegments oblong to oblong-lanceolate, apex moderately acute or acuminate inlarger ones, 1.5–4 x 0.7–1 cm, minutely serrate at margin; veins ascending, forked,all free, firm, green. Fertile frond taller; stipe 20–55 cm long; lamina bipinnate at

TAXONOMY

55

base, up to 30 by 20 cm; pinnae a few pairs, simple to trifoliolate, ultimatesegments linear, 12 x 1.2 cm, caudately acuminate at apex, broadly cuneate tosubtruncate at base, serrate at upper non-soriferous margin. Sori linear,submarginal, continuous almost from base to apex; indusia pale green. Plate 29,

Exicatta SUKV-926

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA UnreportedBELGAUM Belgaum (Ornamental)NOTE This species is raised in pots as ornamental plants in privategardens. So it would have been omitted from the enumeration ofKarnataka Ferns (Rajgopal and Bhat, 1992).11.6.4 PTERIS BIAURITA L. Sp. Pl. 2:1076 (1753); Walker, Fern Gaz. 10:149(1970); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 21 (1986); Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 73 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 8 (1998).Campteris biaurita (L.)] Hook., Gen. Fil. T 65A (1841); Beddome, Handb. FernsBrit. India, 116 (1883).Rhizome erect, short, ca. 1.6 cm in diameter, apex with black-brown scales.Fronds clustered, 6-8 per plant; stipes brown at base, apically straw-colored,slightly lustrous, as long as fronds, 3-4 mm in diamter, glabrous. Laminaoblong-ovate, 50-70 x 20-30 cm, green, bipinnatipartite, tripinnatipartite atbase; lateral pinnae 10-15 pairs, opposite, slightly decumbent, sessile or basalpairs shortly stalked, lanceolate, 15-25 x3-4cm, basally rounded-cuneate andslightly oblique, deeply pinnatifid-pectinate reaching both sides of rachis andforming wings, apically long caudate; apical pinnae like middle lateral pinnaein shape and size; basal pair of pinnae often with a branch near base, branchedpinnae smaller; pinnules 26-32 pairs, alternate, nearly spreading or oblique,

TAXONOMY

56

falcate-oblong, margins entire, costa prominent abaxially, straw-colored,glabrous, grooved adaxially, with; veins conspicuous and convex on both sides,decumbent, biforked at base, basiscopic vein arise from rachis, and acroscopicvein from base of costa, 2 opposite veins of pinnae base arriving at margin ofincision and forming a fork or triangle, or sometimes interlinked into acontinuous triangular mesh, and other veins outward from mesh separate andextending to base of incision. Sori borne all along the margins except at thebase of the sinus and at the apex of the lobe. Plate 30, Exicatta SUKV-927

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Ramnagar-Anmode Rd, Nersa-Anmod Rd, Chorla ghat, Kalmani,Nersa, Surla Ghat, Jamboti, Kankumbi11.6.5 PTERIS ARGYREA T. MOORE Gard. Chron. 671 (1859); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid. 68 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 23 (1986); Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 78 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 7 (1998).P. quadiaurita var argenata Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India, 111 (1883).Rhizome short creeping or suberect, ca. 1.8 cm in diameter, scales lanceolate,dark and opaque at centre, apex acuminate, margin fimbriate. Stipes long, darkbrown at base, glabrous. Lamina ovate to lanceolate, bipinnate, pinnae up to 10pairs, opposite to sub opposite, shortly stalked or subsessile, 7-9 cm apart,basal one to two pairs of pinnae bear an accessory branch to each of the basalside, pinnae lanceolate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, margin entire, costaslightly raised and grooved above, distinctly raised and rounded below, veinsdistinct both surfaces, pinnae pale green to green, texture subcoracious, sori allalong the margins except the very base and serrated apices of the pinnules,dark brown, indusia pale brown, papery, entire. Plate 31, Exicatta SUKV-928

TAXONOMY

57

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikmagalur, Hassan, MysoreBELGAUM Belgaum (Ornamental)12. FAMILY ASPLENIACEAE

12.1 ASPLENIUM L. Sp. Pl. 2:1078 (1753)Key to the species of Asplenium L.1. Fronds simply pinnate ………….……………………………………… A. inaequilaterale1. Fronds bipinnate ………….…………………………………………………………… A. polydon

12.1.1 ASPLENIUM INAEQUILATERALE WILLD. Sp. Pl.4, 5: 322 (1810); Tardieuin Mém. Inst. Fr. Afr. Noire, 28: t. 34/4–5 (1953); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid.118 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 107(1986), Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 220 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 18 (1998).Rhizome erect or suberect, 1cm in diameter, covered by scales at the apicalregion, ovate to lanceolate, 4x0.5 mm, dark brown, margin entire. Frond erect,simply pinnate. Stipe grey green to grey brown, 22x3cm, abaxially rounded,adaxially grooved, glabrous. Lamina ovate-lanceolate, 9–30x4–10 cm, simplypinnate, apex with lobed subacuminate pinnae unlike the lateral one. Pinnaeca. 20 pairs, alternate to subopposite, ca. 2cm apart, subsessile, dark green,glabrous, texture herbaceous, trapezoid to lanceolate, 5x1.2cm, oblique, apexsubacute to retuse, margin serrate, costules upto 12 pairs, basal one is forked2-3 times, simple in distal part, else forked, free, not reaching margin. Sori 5-12pairs, median on veins. Plate 32, Exicatta SUKV-929

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Mysore, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kalmani, KankumbiNOTE: This taxon differs from A. unilaterale chiefly in its erectrhizome and tufted fronds.

TAXONOMY

58

12.1.2 ASPLENIUM POLYODON G. FOSTER Fl. Ins. Austr. Prod. 80 (1786)Asplenium falcatum Lam. in Encycl. Metn. Bot. 2: 306(1786); Beddome, Handb.Ferns Br. India, 150 (1883); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid.117 (1984); Manickam,Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 98 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. WesternGhats S. India, 218 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 18 (1998).Rhizome erect, ca. 1.6cm in diameter, densely scaly at the apex, scaleslanceolate, uniformly dark brown, long acuminate, entire. Stipes tufted, darkbrown to black, rounded below, grooved above, scaly at the base, almostglabrous above except the presence of few linear, soft, pale brown scales.Lamina lanceolate, simply pinnate, imparipinate, acuminate, base broadlycuneate. Pinnae upto 12 pairs, shortly stalked, sub opposite or alternate,terminal pinna often trilobed or bilobed, rarely simple; margin irregularlybiserrate or shallowly lobed; veins distinct above and below, forked up to fivetimes, parellel reaching the margin, mature pinnae pale green, glabrous onboth sides, texture subcoracious, young pinne soft, pale brown. Sori linear,median to sub median along the veins. Plate 33, Exicatta SUKV-930

DISTRIBUTION

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Mysore, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kankumbi13. FAMILY THELYPTERIDACEAE

13.1 THELYPTERIS SCHMIDEL. Icon. Pl. 3, 45–48, t. 11, 13 (1763).Key to the speciesFronds proliferating at intervals ......................................................................... T. proliferaFronds not proliferating at intervals .............................................................. T. parasitica

13.1.1 THELYPTERIS PROLIFERA (RETZ.) C.F.REED Phytologia 17(4): 306 (1968)Ampelopteris prolifera Retz. Copel Gen. Fil.: 144 (1947); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid.105 (1984); Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 14 (1998).

TAXONOMY

59

Rhizome long creeping, ca. 0.8 cm. in diameter, with closely spaced fronds;scales up to 2 mm long, black, entire, triangular, acuminate. Stipe up to 40 cmlong, pale-brown, nitidous. Fronds arching, proliferating at intervals along therhachis of the large fronds, firmly membranous. Lamina very narrowlytriangular in outline, attenuate, with the basal pinnae hardly reduced and theupper pinnae progressively reduced towards the apex. Lower pinnae ca. 15 x 2cm, shortly petiolate to sessile, very narrowly oblong or attenuate with atruncate base, very shallowly incised into short truncate lobes, glabrous on bothsurfaces; veins up to 8 pairs per costule with at least 5 pairs anastomosing.Rhachis pale-brown, glabrous. Sori circular to elongate, with paraphyses,exindusiate. Plate 34, Exicatta SUKV-931

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Mandya, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Kankumbi13.1.2 THELYPTERIS PARASITICA (L.) TARD. in Notul. Syst. 7:75 (1938).Christella parasitica (L.) H. Vel., in Fl. Kouy-Tchéou, 475 (1915); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid.106 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 80 (1986), Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 195 (1992),Christella parasitica (L.) Leveille in Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 15 (1998).Rhizome shortly to distinctly creeping, ca. 7 mm in diameter, scales up to 6–8mm long, dark brown, ovate to lanceolate, entire, thinly pilose. Fronds closelyspaced, 0.4–1 m tall. Stipe 8–50 cm long, glabrous or slightly pubescent, withscales at base. Lamina pinnate, elliptic to narrowly elliptic in outline, 0.3–13 mlong, ca. 40 cm wide, acuminate with a deeply pinnatifid terminal segment; upto 13-20 pais, lowest 2–4 pairs of pinnae usually gradually decreasing; middlepinnae narrowly oblong or lanceolate, 8–21 x 1.5–2.5 cm wide with longnarrowly acuminate crenate apex, deeply pinnatifid into oblong lobes 4–10

TAXONOMY

60

mm long, 2.5–4.5 mm wide, entire, obtuse to acute, pilose along the costa aboveand shortly pubescent beneath; veins 8–9 pairs with one pair anastomosingwith excurrent vein to sinus, the triangle formed usually acute or in somespecimens with 2 pairs of veins anastomosing. Indusia with short white hairsor almost or quite glabrous. Plate 35, Exicatta SUKV-932

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Chikamagalur, Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, Mandya,Mysore, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Appachiwadi, Tavandi Ghat, Gokak. Sada, Gawali, Nersa,Vajrapoha, Saundatti, Jamboti, Khanapur, Kankumbi, Nersa-Anmod Rd.NOTE One of the most common fern of Western Ghats.14. FAMILY WOODSIACEAE.Sori hooked or reniform with indusia connected across veins......... 1. AthyriumSori neither hooked nor reniform without connecting indusia ....... 2. Diplazium

14.1 ATHYRIUM ROTH .Romer, Mag. 2(1): 105 (1799)14.1.1 ATHYRIUM HOHENACKERANUM (KUNZE) T. MOORE, Ind. Fil. 49(1857), Beddome, Ferns S. India, 50, t. 150 (1864; Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid.127 (1984); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India,233 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 19 (1998).Rhizome short creeping, 2cm in diameter, densely clothed by scales all over,scale lanceolate, acuminate, entire, pale brown, soft, membranaceous with thinwalled cells. Stipes tufted, abaxially rounded, adaxially grooved, pale green whenfresh, stramineous when dry, densely scaly at the very base, sparsely above.Lamina ovate or ovate-lanceolate, simply pinnate, imparipinnate; pinnae up to16 pairs, widely spaced, 2-3 pairs of basal pinne shortly stalked, opposite anddeflexed, remaining sessile or subsessile, patent, slightly ascending, alternate,upto 1 cm apart, margin irregularly dentate to serrate or lobed shallowly upto

TAXONOMY

61

costa, pinnae pale green, glabrous above and below, texture herbaceous. Rachiswith sparsely distributed filiform scales. Costae and veins slightly distinct aboveand below, usually simple, rarely forked, reaching to margin. Sori median on allthe veins, straight to hooked, forming parallel rows along the costules butapparently looking like random distribution. Plate 36, Exicatta SUKV-933

DISTRIBUTION:KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Bangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga, Mysore,Dakshin Kannada, Uttar Kannada.BELGAUM Appachiwadi, Tavandi Ghat, Gokak, Sada, Chorla ghat, Gawali,Nersa, Devrayee, Vajrapoha, Saundatti, Jamboti, Khanapur,Kankumbi, Londa, Ramnagar-Anmode Rd, Nersa- Anmod RdNOTE: Occasional, locally abundant, terrestrial on fully or partiallyexposed road sides.14.2 DIPLAZIUM SWARTZ J. Bot. 1800(2): 61. 1801.14.2.1 DIPLAZIUM ESCULANTUM (RETZ.) SW. in Schrad., J. Bot. 1:312(1803); Beddome, Handb. Ferns Br. India, 192 (1883); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid. 132 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 114 (1986), Manickam& Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 241 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 19 (1998).Rhizome erect, up to 5cm in diameter, densely scaly at the apex, scales darkbrown linear to lanceolate, apex along, acuminate, black-margined, marginwith short, simple or bipartite teeth, Stipes tufted, dark brown or black at thebase, glabrous above, purplish band scattered throughout the stipe andrachis, about 70 cm long. Frond variable in size, often more than 1 m long,bipinnate; lower 1 or 2 pinnae often reduced, larger pinnae up to 40x25 cm,rather suddenly narrowing towards acute apex; larger pinnules subsessile orshortly stalked, subcordate or auricled at base, narrowing towards acuminateapex, up to 13x2.5 cm, lobed to quarter to costule; lobes rounded at apex,serrate, papyraceous; pinnae up to seven pairs, pinnules up to 15 pairs,

TAXONOMY

62

margin serrate, apex toothed; costa slightly raised above and below,shallowly grooved above, flattened below with a narrow wing on either sideof the costa both above and below, pinnae dark green, glabrous above andbelow; texture herbaceous. Veins pinnate, veinlets up to 10 pairs, uniting withthe opposite ones forming excurrent veinlets. Sori linear, all along the veinsexcept at the base and apex. Plate 37, Exicatta SUKV-934

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga, Tumkur, Mysore DakshinKannada, Uttar Kannada,BELGAUM KankumbiNOTE: Common terrestrial fern growing as large colonies in openmarshy places especially along steam banks15. FAMILY BLECHNACEAE

15.1 BLECHNUM L. Sp.Pl.2:1077.1753.

15.1.1 BLECHNUM ORIENTALE L. Sp. Pl. 2: 1077 (1753). Beddome, Ferns S.India, t. 29 (1864); Handb. Ferns Br. India, 132, t. 86 (1883); Dixit, Cens.Ind. Pterid. 172 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 144 (1986),Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 300 (1992),Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 22 (1998).Rhizome erect, ca. 10 cm in diameter, dark brown, short, densely covered withscales; scales dark brown at center, brown near margin, narrowly linear, ca.1 cm, entire. Stipes stout, tufted, stramineous, dark or redish brown at the base,purplish when young, up to 60 cm long, densely scaly at base, bearing smallauricles (reduced pinnae) throughout. Laminae ovate to linear lanceolate, up to1.75m long and 50 cm wide, apex acute, base subtruncate, pinnae 10-55 pairs,sessile or adnate, alternate. Lateral pinnae many in number, ca. 3 cm apart,ascending, linear, gradually narrowing towards long-tailed apex, round orsubtruncate at sessile base, or decurrent at posterior base and adnate in theupper ones, margin entire, 30x2 cm; oblong to linear to lanceolate, apex ling

TAXONOMY

63

acuminate. Costa slightly distinct above and below, groved adaxially, roundedadaxially. Veins immersed, usually simple or sometimes forked near costa,distinct on both surfaces, very close, up to 0.5 mm apart; more or lessperpendicular to costa, texture coriaceous, green, glabrous throughout. Sorilong-continuous on either side of costa, parallel, narrow, dark brown, indusialfirm with entire margin. Plate 38, Exicatta SUKV-935

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga,Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kankumbi16. FAMILY DRYOPTERIDACEAE.

Key to the genusFronds distinctly dimorphic ....................................................................................... BolbitisFronds not dimorphic ...................................................................................... Hypodematium

16.1 BOLBITIS SCHOTT. Gen. Fil. 3: t.14 (1835)Key to species of BolbitisVeins free ............................................................................................................... B. asplenifoliaVeins anastomosingTerminal Pinna of frond usually flagelloid and not proliferate ........ B. preslianaTerminal Pinna of frond not flagelloidSterile pinnae oblong to lanceolate ..................................................... B. semicordata

16.1.1 BOLBITIS ASPLENIFOLIA (BORY.) K. IWATS.

B. appendiculata var. asplenifolia (Bory) Sledge, Bot. J. Linn. Soc., 84: 19 (1982);Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 293 (1992),Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 21 (1998).Egenofolia asplenifolia (Bory) Fee, Gen. Fil. 358 (1852); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid.163 (1984).Polybotrya asplenifolia Presl. Tent. Pterid. 231 (1836); Beddome, Ferns S. India,t. 195 (1864).

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64

Rhizome short creeping, ca. 0.6 cm in diameter, densely scaly at apex; sparselyin rest, scales dark brown, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, margin subentireto wavy. Fronds dimorphic, simply pinnate, stipes close, ca. double in length infertile fronds than sterile ones, dark green when young, grayish brown whenmature, adaxially grooved abaxially. Sterile fronds pinnate, ca. 10-35 cm;widest at lower portion, progressively narrowed, pinnae up to 30-34 pairs,1cm apart, oblong, dimidiate, apex acute to acuminate, subsessile to sessile,opposite at base, alternate to the rest, margin more or less entire, finelyserrate, or lobed towards costa, basal 3-5 pairs slightly reduced and deflexed.Veins pinnate in the basal pinnae, forked in the rest; free, veinlet reach thebase of sinus bearing ca. 2mm bristles, pinnae dark green, glabrous, textureherbaceous to leathery. Fertile fronds pinnate to triparitite, 15-60 cm long,oblong to lanceolate, pinnae upto 30 pairs, opposite to subopposite, 2-4 cmapart in lower region, closely placed above, lowermost pinnae stalked,subsessile to sessile in the rest, apex rounded, margin crenate. Sori all over thelower surface, acristichoid. Plate 39, Exicatta SUKV-936

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Uttar Kannada, Dakshin KannadaBELGAUM Kankumbi, Nersa-Anmode Rd, Ramanagar-Anmode Rd16.1.2 BOLBITIS PRESLIANA (FEE) CHING. C. Chr., Ind. Fil., Suppl. 3 (1934); Dixit,Cens. Ind. Pterid.76 (1984); Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 21 (1998).Poeciliopteris presliana Moore in Ind. Fil. 20 (1857); Beddome, Ferns Br. India, t.269 (1868).Gymnopteris presliana J. Smith, Hist. Fil., 138 (1875), Beddome, Handb. Ferns Br.India, 439 t. 267 (1883).Rhizome short creeping, up to 10 cm long, up to 5mm in diameter, with 2 or 3rows of fronds. Rhizome scales dark or reddish brown to blackish, opaque to

TAXONOMY

65

subclathrate. Fronds close together. Sterile fronds pinnate, 20-50 cm; stipe 5-24 cm, 1-3 mm in diameter, lamina 12-26 x 5-15 cm, texture herbaceous, darkgreen in colour, without bulbils, rachis somewhat with a narrow wing in upperhalf of lamina, pinnae alternate or opposite, upto 24 pairs, ca. 2.5 cm apart inlower portion and reducing in upper part, wider above, tapering to both thesides, angustate base, margin entire, sometimes sinuate with bristles, apexacute to acuminate, lower two pinnae shortly stalked, others subsessile tosessile, terminal segment joined to rachis and confront more or less to pinnae.Veins form a costal areole, the costal arch medially with excurrent vein. Fertilefronds 25-40cm long, stipe 12-25 cm, pinnae up to 22 pairs, 0.5-2.5 cm apart,lowermost pinnae stalked, terminat segment always confronts to pinnae. Soriall over the lower surface, acristichoid. Plate 40, Exicatta SUKV-937

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Uttar Kannada, ShimogaBELGAUM Kankumbi16.1.3 BOLBITIS SEMICORDATA (BAKER) CHING. C. Chr. Ind. Fil. Suppl. 3(1934); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 162 (1984); Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 296 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. FernJ. 15: 22 (1998).Rhizome short creeping, up to 10 cm, ca. 0.6 cm in diameter, densely scaly at theapex, scales lanceolate, apex acuminate, margin entire or subentire, colourbrown or blackish. Fronds close together, sterile fronds pinnate, 15-48 cm; stipe10-25 cm, sparsely scaly, arranged in two rows, stramineous to grayish,flattened abaxially and grooved adaxially, lamina simply pinnate, 12-65 cm, darkgreen, texture herbaceous, progressively narrowed from base to apex, terminalsegment subarticulate conforming costal areole, narrowly triangular, relativelylonger than other pinnae, pinnae 6-14 pairs, subopposite at the base, alternate

TAXONOMY

66

above, base broadly cuneate to subcordate, margin usually lobed to 1/3 towardcosta, subentire or crenate-serrate, with a prominent tooth in each sinusbetween lobes, apex acuminate; secondary veins slightly prominent; veinsforming a costal areole and distal areoles, areoles in part with usually onesimple, excurrent free vein. Fertile fronds 20-60 cm; stipe 10-35 cm; pinnae 6-10pairs, ca. 2 cm apart, two lowermost pinnae stalked, pinnules much reduced,apex rounded, margin entire. Sporangia inserted throughout abaxial surface,arrangement acrostichoid. Plate 41, Exicatta SUKV-938

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamanlur, Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, Uttar Kannada, ShimogaBELGAUM Ramnagar-Anmode Rd, Nersa-Anmod Rd, Jamboti, Kankumbi16.2 HYPODEMATIUM KUNZE Flora 16:690 (1833).16.2.1 HYPODEMATIUM CRENATUM (FORSSK.) KUHN, Von der Decken,Reisen, Bot. 3, 3: 37 (1879); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 137 (1984);Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 122 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 254 (1992).Rhizome prostrate, ca. 3 cm in diameter, covered by dense ferrugineous glossylanceolate-acuminate scales, apex long acuminate, margin entire. Stipes tufted, ca.30 cm, stramineous, rounded abaxially and grooved adaxially, glabrous except forscales, similar to those on the rhizome, mostly in a dense basal tuft. Laminabroadly ovate, up to 30–42 cm, pale green, softly herbaceous, ovate-triangular inoutline, tripinnatified, rarely quadripinnatifid with the basal pinnae developedbasiscopically; pilose with unicellular hairs on both surfaces, rachis stramineous,pilose; primary pinnae up to 22 cm, 2-4 pairs, subopposite, ca. 12 cm apart,lanceolate, apex oblong-acute, secondary pinnae up to 10 cm, 3-5 pairs, alternatewith stalk, ca. 6 cm apart, oblong to lanceolate, apex acure, base truncate, tertiary

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pinnae 1.5-2 cm, 1 cm apart, apex subacute to rounded. Veins obscure on bothsides, veinlets in ultimate segments forked 2-4 times, free, reaching the margin.Sori dorsal on veinlets, rather close to costules; ca. 10 - 12 per pinnule, induciateindusia round-reniform or horse-shoe-shaped, about 1 mm broad, white toslightly grayish, margin entire. Plate 42, Exicatta SUKV-939

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA New to Karnataka**BELGAUM KankumbiNOTE Extremely rare species of South India17. FAMILY LOMARIOPSIDACEAE.

17.1 NEPHROLEPIS SCHOTT. Gen. Fil. 1: t.3 (1834).Key to the speciesRhizome produces tubers .................................................................................... N. cordifoliaRhizome does not produce tubers ...................................................................... N. brownii

17.1.1 NEPHROLEPIS CORDIFOLIA (L.) PRESL. Tent. Pterid. 79 (1836);Beddome, Handb. Ferns Br. India, 282(1883), Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 167(1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 58 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj,Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 140 (1992).N. auricultata (L.) Trimen, Journ. Linn. Soc. Londo Bot., 24:152 (1887), Rajgopaland Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 12 (1998).Rhizomes suberect, ca. 2cm in diameter, scales spreading, orange-brown topale brown, lanceolate, margin fimbricate. Stolons on wiry roots, strawcolored, scaly usually present in great numbers, often producing small, scalyunderground tubers. Stipes tufted, terete, 20-25 cm, scaly with narrow scales,stramineous or darker, densely scaly in lower portion, sparsely scaly toglabrous in upper portion. Laminae linear-oblong-lanceolate moderately acuteat apex, gradually narrowing towards base, ca. 70 cm, pinnate; rachis grooved

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adaxially; lateral pinnae up to 40-100 pairs; ca. 1 cm apart, middle ones larger,acute, to moderately acute at apex, truncate at base, auricled at anterior base,sessile, shallowly serrate to crenate at margin, colour pale green, glabrousabove and below, texture papyraceous, pale brown hairs distributed unevenlyon rachis. Costa and veins distinctly visible on both surfaces, veins forked nearcosta, free, ending in hydathode just before margin. Sori middle tosubmarginal, position between costa and margin of pinna, in one row; ca. 10-15 pairs per pinnae, reniform, indusia reniform, thin but stiff, large, brown,glabrous. Plate 43, Exicatta SUKV-940

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, MysoreBELGAUM Kankumbi, Khanapur, Belgaum (Ornamental)17.1.2 NEPHROLEPIS BROWNII (DESVAUX) HOVEN. & MIYAM., Blumea 50(2):293. 2005N. exaltata (L.) Schott., Gen. Fil. pl. 3 (1834); Handb. Ferns Br. India, 282 (1883).N. multiflora (Roxb.) Jarret ub Morton, Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 38:309(1974);Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 167 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills, 59(1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 142(1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 13 (1998).Rhizome short-decumbent to erect, ca. 4 mm in diameter, stoloniferous andtuber-forming, closely set with stiff, brown roots, crowded stipe bases and scales.Stipe rigid, brown, adaxially sulcate, up to 14 cm, ca. 3.5 mm in diameter, denselyscaly at base, glabrous to subglabrous in the rest, scales stramineous, sessile,lanceolate to lanceolate-caudate, irregularly denticulate, also with capitateglandular hairs, basal margin irregularly long-fimbriate. Fronds caespitose, erectto arching, ca. 1 m; lamina pinnate, linear-acute, attenuate, rachis adaxiallysulcate, moderate ferrugineus scales analogous to stipe scales; pinnae up to 35

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pairs, ca. 1.5 cm apart, articulated to the rachis, somewhat imbricate, sessile,oblong-obtuse to oblong-acute, acroscopically auricled, truncate to cordate,dentate. Venation obscure, free, pinnately branched, branches forked once nearthe costa, ending in a hydathode near the margin. Sori reniform, at the end of ashortened acroscopic vein branch, in a single row on both sides of the costa; ca.12-18 pairs per pinnae, indusium reniform, castaneus at the point of attachment,margins hyaline, entire. Plate 44, Exicatta SUKV-941

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikmagalur, Dakshin Kannada, ShimogaBELGAUM Belgaum (Ornamental)NOTE The species is often misidentified as N. exaltata (L.) Schott(Mickel and Beitel, 1988).18. FAMILY TECTARIACEAE

18.1 TECTARIA CAV., Anales Hist. Nat. 1: 115. 1799.Sori large, terminal on included veinlets, in 2 rows between lateral veins;indusium large, persistent .......................................................................................... T. coadunataSori small, on anastomosing veinlets, in irregular rows between lateral veins;indusium small, caduceus ......................................................................................... T. polymorpha

18.1.1 TECTARIA COADUNATA (J. SM.) C. CHR. Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 26: 331(1931); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 142 (1984); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl.Western Ghats S. India, 260 (1992), Fraser-Jenkins, New species SyndromeIndian Pter.: 242 (1997). Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 21 (1998).T. macrodonta (Fée) C.Chr. Ind. Suppl. 3: 181 (1934).Sagenia coadunata J. Sm. In Hook. J. Bot., 4:184(1841); Beddome, Ferns S. India,28, t. 81 (1864).Rhizome short creeping, ca. 3 cm in diameter, covered in scales; scales ovate tolanceolate, brownish in colour, apex acuminate, margin ciliated. Stipes scattered,0.5 cm apart, ca. 50 cm, abaxially rounded, adaxially grooved, reddish to grayish

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brown, dark brown ovate scales near base, glabrous and glossy in the rest.Fronds tufted, lamina mid- to dark green, subcoriaceous, deltoid – lanceolate,basal pinnae wide, 30x40cm, bipinnate or bipinnatified; primary pinnae distinct,the lowermost pinnae bears 1.5 cm stalk, others much shorter and graduallyadnate to rachis by basal half; basal pinnules largest, ca. 22cm, with basiscopicpart of pinna broader, basal few pinnules free, other pinnules joined by acontinuous wing, lamina pale green, texture thin and soft herbaceous, bearingmulticellular hairs on lamina except on main rachis. Veins slightly distinct below,obscure above, veinlets more or less straight free in central areoles, absent alongcostae; lamina with some hairs near margin plus glandular trichomes restrictedto in and near sinus, and each areole with a single trichome. Sori almostmarginal, orbicular, indusium round, dark brown, persistent, sometimesflabellate. Plate 45, Exicatta SUKV-942

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Bangaluru, Chikamagalur, Hassan, Mandya, Mysore, Shimoga,Uttar Kannada, Dakshin Kannada.BELGAUM Appachiwadi, Sada, Gawali, Nersa, Gokak, Jamboti, Nersa-Anmod Rd, Kankumbi, Khanapur.NOTE: This species is of common occurance in Northern part ofWestern Ghats after Adiantum phillipense and Athyrium

hohenckarianum. The species thrives well in open sun andcan withstand a wider range of temperature and elevation.18.1.2 TECTARIA POLYMORPHA (WALL. EX HOOK.) COPEL. Philip. Journ. Sci.2: 413. 1907; Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India,258 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 21 (1998).Aspidium polymorphum Wall., List no. 282, 1828; Hook., Sp. Fil. 4: 54. 1862.Rhizome short, ascending to suberect; ca. 1.6 cm in diameter, scales linear-subtriangular, brown, stiff, margins pale and thin. Stipes stramineous to brown,densely pubescent on adaxial surface, glabrescent beneath, ca. 38 cm long.Laminae imparipinnate, ovate-oblong, ca. 60 cm; rachis densely pubescent on

TAXONOMY

71

upper surface, glabrescent beneath; lateral pinnae oblong-lanceolate, caudate atapex, cuneate to rounded at base, shortly stalked or sessile, broadest at onethird apical portion; usually about 20 - 30 cm, subentire or rarely coarselydentate, papyraceous, colour pale to dark green, texture chartaceous, glabrous;costa and main veins distinctly raised beneath, shortly pubescent. Veinscopiously anastomosing, main areoles distinct including two rows of smallerareoles with free included veinlets, all veinlets raised beneath, glabrous. Sori oncross veins or sometimes on included free veins, irregularly scattered on lowersurface of pinnae, round, indusia brown, firm, more or less reniform, entire,fugacious. Plate 46, Exicatta SUKV-943

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Mysore, Shimoga, Dakshin Kannada,Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, KankumbiNOTE Growing in exposed places or more or less shaded ravines ofthe forests of studied area.19. FAMILY POLYPODIACEAEKey to the genera1. Fronds dimorphic.....................................................……………….......…………….. Drynaria1. Fronds not dimorphic2. Fronds densely covered by stellate hairs below …………............……… Pyrrosia2. Fronds glabrous with simple gland like hairs3. Fronds above more than 40 cm long .............…………………........ Microsorum3. Fronds above less than 40 cm long ...........……...……………............... Lepisorus

19.1 DRYNARIA (BORY) J. SMITH Hook. J. Bot. 4:60 (1841)19.1.1 DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA (L.) J. SMITH Hook. J. Bot. 3: 398 (1841);Beddome, Ferns S. India, t. 186 (1684); Handb. Ferns Br. India, 341, t. 191(1883); Dixit, Cens. Ind.Pterid.76 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills,150 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India,312 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 23 (1998).

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72

Rhizome short creeping, 4-5 cm diameter, densely covered with scales; scaleslanceolate, long acuminate at apex, peltate, toothed to fimbriate at margin, ca.1.5 – 3 mm, uniformly pale brown, not so stiff. Fronds distinctly dimorphic.Sterile fronds sessile, oval to ovate-oblong, persistent, shallowly lobed, brown,ca. 16x22 cm, midrib and primary veins distinctly raised above ane below,lobed to a half-way between midrib and margin; lobes round at apex, entire.Fertile fronds oblong, stipes 12–18 cm, lamina ca. 75 x 30 cm, pinnatifid,oblong, acute at apex, lobes oblique, adnate to its neighbours with laminae ofless than 1 cm in breadth, oblong-lanceolate, caudately acuminate at apex,entire, up to 20 cm; terminated into pinnaule confronting lateral ones, upto 15pairs, narrowly winged almost to the base; colour pale green, glabrous; texturecoriaceous. Veins raised on both surfaces, copiously anastomosing, 6–8 rows ofareoles between the main veins, no inclusion of free veinlets. Sori round orpunctiform, on the intersection of veins, irregularly placed on the lower surfaceof lobes, exinduciate. Plate 47 Exicatta SUKV-944

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Dakshin Kannada, Hassan, Mysore, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM JambotiNOTE There is increasing collection of rhizome of D. quercifolia forits medicinal properties and hence the species is under threatof being wiped out from natural dwellings.19.2 PYRROSIA MIRBEL Lamark et Mirbel, Hist. Nat. Veg. 5:91 (1802)19.2.1 PYRROSIA POROSA (C. PRESL) HOVENK., Blumea 30:208(1984);Hovenkamp, Fl. Males., Ser. II, Ferns and Fern Allies 3:168 (1998); Dixit, Cens.Ind. Pterid. 54 (1984); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S.India, 323 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 25 (1998).

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73

Niphobolus fissus Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae 2: 106–107 (1828); Hooker, Sp. Fil., 5:49(1863); Beddome, Suppl. Ferns Br. India, 22 (1876); Handb. Ferns Br.India, 330 (1883).Rhizomes short creeping, densely covered wirh scales; the scales apprised,lanceolate, margin pale brown, brown at the centre, acuminate at apices, basecuneate-rounded. Stipes up to10 cm long, densely covered with scales at bases,upwards nearly globrous, straminous. Fronds scattered, elliptic to lanceolate,ca. 35 cm, lamina lanceolate, wider at above mid parts, shortly acuminate atapex, downwards attenuated into cuneate, and decurrent nearly to bases alongmain veins, margin entire, 32 X 3.6 cm, midrib slightly distinct above,concolourous below, shallowly groved above, sparsely covered with stellatehairs on upper surfaces, under surfaces greyishly brown, covered with stellatehairs of two kinds, superficial stellate hairs with rays of same length, stellatehairs on bottom with wooly rays; colour greenish above, brown below; texturethick coriaceous; lower surface covered by two rows of pale brown stellatehairs. Veins slightly robust, immersed, slightly raised on under sides, flat onupper sides, primary veins ascending, parallel, secondary veins connectingprimary veins forming rectangular areole. Sori many, gathered born in abovehalf parts of laminae and in multirows on either side of main veins, 4-6 perlarger areole, covered with stellate hairs when young, slightly confluent andbreck-red when maturity. Plate 48, Exicatta SUKV-945

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysore, TumkurBELGAUM Jamboti, Khanapur, Kankumbi, Nersa- Anmod Road19.3 MICROSORUM LINK. Hort. Reg. Bot. Bero. 12:110 (1883)Key to the species of MicrosorumFronds membranaceous or thin herbaceous …………………… M. membranaceumFronds coriaceous …………………………………………………………….… M. puntuatum

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74

19.3.1 MICROSORUM MEMBRANACEUM (D.DON) CHING. Bull. Fan. Mem. Inst.Biol. 4:309(1933); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 45 (1984); Manickam &Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India, 327 (1992), Rajgopal andBhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 24 (1998).Pleopeltis membranacea Moore, Ind. Fil. 191 (1857); Beddome, Ferns S. India,59, t. 177 (1864); Handb. Ferns Br. India, 355 (1883).Rhizome long creeping, up to 0.6 mm in diameter, bearing closely spacedfronds, usually near apical portion, scaly; scales larger, oblong-subtriangular,gradually narrowing towards apex, up to 10 by 2.5 mm, clathrate with smallercells, bi-coloured, the central portion dark greyish-brown, the margin brownand more or less fringed. Stipes about 12 cm long, winged almost to the base,stramineous or greenish. Fronds ca. 70 cm, elliptic or lanceolate, arranged insingle row on adaxial side of rhizome, ca. 1.5 cm apart. Laminae narrowlyoblong, broadest in lowermost region, roundly narrowing and then attenuateto the base, gradually narrowing towards acute or acuminate apex, marginsubentire to slightly wavy, midrib raised prominently below, main lateralveins prominent, main areoles visible, smaller areoles hardly visible, many innumber and irregularly arranged; colour pale green; glabrous, texturemembranous to thinly herbaceous. Sori many, at joint of veins, round anddistinct, small, irregularly scattered usually in 2–5 rows between main lateralveins. Plate 49, Exicatta SUKV-946

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysore, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kalmani, Kankumbi19.3.2 MICROSORUM PUNCTATUM (L.) COPEL. Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 16: 111(1929); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 46 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills,154 (1986); Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India,328 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 24 (1998).

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75

Rhizome short creeping, 0.8 – 1.2 cm diameter, bearing closely spaced fronds,scaly; scales narrowly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, upto 8 mm, concolorously darkgreyish-brown, clathrate, margin distinctly toothed. Stipes not distinct fromlaminae, ca. 12 cm long, scaly at base, stramineous to greenish. Fronds ca. 85 -110 cm, 3–6 cm broad; lanceolate or elliptic, apex acute to acuminte. Laminanarrowly oblong to lanceolate, gradually narrowing towards acute to subacuteapex; colour pale green when fresh, brownish black when dry, texturesubcoriaceous, margin entire, sometimes revolute. Veins slightly distinct aboveand below, midrib raised on both surfaces, other veins obscure, finelyanastomosing to form copious areoles. Sori many, small, round, many, scatteredon the whole abaxial surface. Plate 50, Exicatta SUKV-947

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Belgaum (Ornamental)19.4 LEPISORUS (J. SM.) CHING. Bull. Fan. Mem. Inst. Biol. Bot. 4:47(1933).19.4.1 LEPISORUS NUDUS (HOOK.) CHING., Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol. 4: 83(1933); Dixit, Cens. Ind. Pterid. 46 (1984); Manickam, Fern Fl. Palni Hills,154 (1986), Manickam & Irudayaraj, Pterid. Fl. Western Ghats S. India,328 (1992), Rajgopal and Bhat, Ind. Fern J. 15: 24 (1998).Pleopeltis nuda Hook., Exot. Fl. 1: t. 63. (1823).P. linearis (Thunb.) Kaulf.: Beddome, Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 346, f. 194. (1883).Rhizome long creeping, 1.5–2 mm diam., green on surface, bearing frondsrather remotely, scaly throughout; scales ovate-oblong with graduallynarrowing attenuate apex, up to 4 by 1 mm, concolorously light brown,clathrate, entire. Stipes 2–7 cm long, stramineous, castaneous or dark, wingedon the upper part, scaly at base. Laminae linear, broadest usually at middleportion, linear-lanceolate, gradually narrowing towards both long-attenuate

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76

ends, up to 30 by 2 cm, entire or a little revolute at margin; coriaceous,minutely and sparsely scaly underneath. Sori medial, round or oblong or alittle obliquely elongate, up to 4.5 mm broad, more or less rose, hollowing onupper surface. Plate 51, Exicatta SUKV-948

DISTRIBUTION:

KARNATAKA Chikamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga, Mysore, Uttar KannadaBELGAUM Jamboti, Kankumbi, Nersa-Anmod RoadEXCLUDED / DOUBTFUL SPECIESIn the present investigation, the identity of some species mentioned inMahamuni and Dongare (2009) is found to be doubtful after the consultationwith C. R. Fraser Jenkins (Personal communication) and hence they have beenomitted from the present studies. Pteris quadriaurita Retz., Obs. Bot. 6: 38 (1791). Pteris pseudoquadriaurita Khullar, Ill. Fern Fl. West Him. 1: 272. t. 98 (1994). Bolbitis appendiculata (Willd.) K.Iwats., Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 18: 48.1959; Asplenium formosum Willd. Sp. Pl. 5(1): 329

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DISCUSSIONIn the present work a total of 49 taxa belonging to 34 genera and 19 familiesof ferns have been collected and described from Belgaum district (Table 1, Fig. 1).From the table it is clear that polypodiales is the largest order comprising of 40taxa, while other orders are represented by only one taxa except orderOphioglossales and Salviniales.Table 4. Summary of distribution of order wise fern taxa from Belgaum district

Order Families Genera SpeciesOphioglossales 01 01 02Marattiales 01 01 01Osmundales 01 01 01Gleicheniales 01 01 01Schizaeales 01 01 01Salviniales 01 02 02Cyatheales 01 01 01Polypodiales 12 26 40Total 19 34 49

Fig 1. Summary of fern taxa from Belgaum districtOut of 49 species reported from Belgaum district, 44 species in wildcontribute to 90% of total fern taxa while 10% are raised in pots asornamental plants. Polypodiales stands to be the larger order in terms ofnumber of taxa reported. In order Polypodiales, Pteridaceae is the largestfamily represented by 14 taxa followed by Polypodiaceae with 05 taxa.

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78

Fig 2. Pie chart showing the distribution of taxa in 8 orders (Smith et al.,2007) of ferns and distribution of family wise taxa in Polypodiales

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79

Fig 3. Pie chart showing familywise dominance of fern taxa at differenttaxonomic ranks

Fig 4. The locality wise distribution of the fern taxa in Belgaum district

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80

Fig 5. The species richness of the fern taxa in Belgaum district

ABUNDANT SPECIES INBELGAUM DISTRICT

LESS ABUNDANTSPECIES IN

BELGAUM DISTRICT

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As per BSI Activity Report (1999), Belgaum district had been in theunderexplored areas of Karnataka in the point of biodiversity. Reports areavailable for occurrence of only some common ferns Pteris vittata L. and awater fern A. pinnata R.Br. for Belgaum district. Blatter and d’Almeida (1922)were first to report some ferns from Belgaum district. They mentionedPteridium revolutum (Blume) Nakai from Kanor, Karnataka (mentioned asPteris aquilina L.) and Bolbitis appendiculata (Willd.) K. Iwats [mentioned asPolybotrya appendiculata (Willd.) J.Sm.]. Naiknaware (1983) had reported theoccurrence of Odontosoria chinensis (L.) J.Sm. [mentioned as Sphenomeris

chinensis (L.) Maxon] from Belgaum district.The locality wise distribution of the taxa (Fig. 4) clearly denotes thatKankumbi, Jamboti, Nersa-Anmode Road, Sada, Nersa and Khanapur localitiesare relatively richer in the fern diversity while Appachiwadi, Gawali, Gokak,Tavandi Ghat, Devrayee, Chorla and Surla Ghats have moderate diversity. Thefern rich localities fall in in the Belgaum forest division which is the part of theWestern Ghats contributing a major part of the fern flora of district.Adiantum philippense L., Athyrium hohenackerianum (Kunze) T.Moore,

Pteris vittata L. and Thelypteris parasitica (Forssk.) E.St. John are collected frommore than 70% localities (Fig. 5) and are assumed to be abundant in the district.The reason for their abundance may be the adaptability to a wide range oftemperature and moisture conditions, healtier rhizome and high production ofspores while some species like Osmunda huegeliana C.Presl., Angiopteris evecta(G. Forst.) Hoffm., Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link, Hypodematium crenatum(Forssk.) Kuhn, Ophioglossum gramineum Willd. are reported from a singlelocality and they are presumably rare in the district. In the present studies,species such as Microlepia speluncae (L.) Moore, Nephrolepis brownii (Desv.)Hoven. & Miyam., N. cordifolia (L.) C.Presl. Pteris ensiformis Burm.f. and

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Microsorium punctuatum (L.) Copel. are also collected which are raised as theornamental plants in pots of the private gardens. Additionally some medicinallyimportant species like Dicranopteris linearis, Drynaria quercifolia, Adiantum

phillipense, etc. have also been reported.Ferns are perennial and may take the form of twining vines, floatingplants, trees, epiphytes or more commonly, terrestrial herbs and they may hugthe ground or grow as tall as 50 ft (Hogan, 2004). The present work includesferns in all type of habits mentioned above. The present piece of work enliststhe ferns diversity in the Belgaum district. This will serve as an offline databasefor students, botanists, ecologists, foresters, conservationists, fern enthusiastsand policy makers who are interested in the fern flora of Belgaum district.

a b

c d

PLATE 52

c d

e fe f

Habit of (a) Blechum orientale, (b) Dicranopteris linearis(c) Adiantum caudatum,(d) Schizoloma ensifolia, (e) Cyathea crinita and (f) Adinatum phillipense

a b

c d

PLATE 53

c d

e f

Habit of (a) Odontosoria chinensis, (b) Actiniopteris radiata (c) Adiantum raddiantum,(d) Diplazium esculantum, (e) Hemionitis arifolia and (f) Angioperis evecta

PLATE 54

a b

c dc d

e f

Habit of (a) Blechum orientale, (b) Dicranopteris dichotoma (c) Adiantum caudatum,(d) Schizoloma ensifolia, (e) Cyathea crinita and (f) Adinatum phillipense

PLATE 55

a b

c d

Habit of (a) Osmunda hugeliana, (b) Anogramma leptophylla (c) Pteris argyrea and(d) Bolbitis subcordata

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KEY TO TAXA OF FERNS FROM BELGAUM DISTRICT BASED ON SPORE MORPHOLOGY1. Exine and perine not differentiated ....................................................... Cheilanthes tenuifolia1. Exine and perine differentiated2. Spores monolete.3. Perine present.4. Spores ellipsoidal in amb.5. Exine smooth.6. Perine wrinkles form mesh like reticulation ........................... Bolbitis asplenifolia6. Perine wrinkles do not form mesh like reticulation7. Perine adhere closely with exine.8. Perine granulose ...................................................................... Odontosoria chinensis8. Perine rugulose ................................................................................. Bolbitis presliana7. Perine not adhering closely with exine9. Perine densely spinulose .........................................................Thelypteris prolifera9. Perine granulose10. Wrinkled into regularly arranged semicircular folds ..................................................................................................................................... 39. Bolbitis semicordata10. Wrinkled into irregularly arranged conical folds ......................................................................................................................................................... Thelypteris parasitica5. Exine not smooth11. Perine smooth, devoid of any folds .................................... 36. Blechnum orientale11. Perine not smooth and folded.12. Exine granulate13. Perine spines forming lophate pattern. ........ 30. Asplenium inaequilaterale13. Perine wrinkled in conical crests .................................... 31. Asplenium polyodon12. Exine densely spinulose14. Perine granulate ........................................................................ Tectaria coadunata14. Perine smooth wrinkled into ridge like folds ............. Tectaria polymorpha4. Spores reniform in amb15. Perine granulate ................................................................ 40. Hypodematium crenatum15. Perine not granulate16. Perine wrinkled into tubercule-like crowded folds .. 41. Nephrolepis brownii16. Perine wrinkled into regula-like folds ........................ 42. Nephrolepis cordifolia

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3. Perine absent17. Exine brown18. Spinulose with slender and irregularly distributed spines ..................................................................................................................................................................... Drynaria quercifolia18. Regulate densely with short irregular regulae ............ Diplazium esculentum17. Exine yellowish19. Exine yellowish green20. Densely areolate with uniformly distributed areoles ............................................................................................................................................................. Microsorum membranaceum20. Granulose; granules large .................................................. Microsorium punctuatum19. Exine not yellowish green21. Exine yellowish brown, surface verrucate .................................. . Pyrrosia porosa21. Exine yellowish brown, surface granulose ............................. . Lepisorus nudus2. Spore trilete.22. Perine present23. Shape globose, amb circular24. Perine slightly granulose and much folded ........................ Aleuriopteris anceps24. Perine prominently granulose and devoid of folds .......... Angiopteris evecta23. Shape tetrahedral, amb triangular25. Perine folded forming reticulation ............................... Anogramma leptophylla25. Perine not folded26. Perine not clearly distinguished …............................... . Lindsaea heterophylla26. Perine clearly distinguished27. Perine granulose prominently ...................................... Adiantum philippense27. Perine rugulose28. Regulae with crowded granulae ............................ Adiantum raddianum28. Rugulae coalesced to form irregular ridges ..... 16. Adiantum incisum22. Perine present29. Shape globose, amb circular .................................................... Osmunda huegeliana29. Shape tetrahedral, amb triangular30. Exine smooth, hyaline ............................................................. Dicranopteris linearis30. Exine not smooth

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31. Exine ridged or wrinkled32. Ridged with closely packed thick ridges .......1 Ceratopteris thallictroides32. Wrinkled into thin and apparently solid folds ……..2Hemionitis arifolia31. Exine granulose or rugulose33. Exine granulose34. Spore colour deep Brown ...............................................1Pteridium revolutum34. Yellowish Brown ................................................................ 1Microlepia spelunace33. Exine rugulose35. Size more than 65 µm................................................... 0Lygodium flexuosum35. Size less than 65 µm36. Equatorial collar interrupted37. Reticulation arranged irregularly .... 2Pityrogramma calomelanos37. Reticulation pentagonal ....................................................... Pteris vittata36. Equatorial collar uninterrupted38. Exine densely baculate .............................................. . Pteris ensiformis38. Exine rugulose39. Entire surface rugulose ................................................ Pteris pellucida39. Either proximal or distal surface rugulose40. Rugulose on proximal surface...................4. Actiniopteris radiata40. Rugulose on distal surface .....................................6. Pteris biaurita

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OBSERVATIONSThe light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy observationsare reported here. The spore has been described in the order of spore type,spore shape, size. The sizes are expressed as equatorial length x polarlength. This is followed by amb (general appearance) and surfaceornamentation i.e. the exine and perine characters evident in SEM.ANGIOPTERIS EVECTA (G. FORST.) HOFFM.Spores trilete, shape globose to tetrahedral. Size 22x29 µm. Colouryellowish brown. Amb circular. Exine Smooth. Perine Prominentlygranulose, loose, devoid of folds. (Plate 56OSMUNDA HUEGELIANA C.PRESL.Spores trilete, shape globose to tetrahedral. Size 52x64 µm, colour lightbrown. Circular in amb. Much variation is observed in size. Exine denselygranulose, granules prominent and papillate, Perine absent. (Plate 56)DICRANOPTERIS LINEARIS (BURM.F.) UNDERW.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral. Size 24x32 µm. Triangular in amb. Exinehyaline to light brown, smooth, perine absent. (Plate 56)LYGODIUM FLEXUOSUM (L.) SW.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 85x100 µm. Colour deep brown.Exine usually rugulose with massive tubercle like crowded rugulae. Theentire surface seems to be granulose. Perine absent. (Plate 57)CYATHEA CRINITA (HOOK) COPEL.Spore trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 27x34 µm. Colour light brown. Ambtriangular. Exine smooth to slightly granulate. Proximal half of the sporesappear flat to slightly concave. (Plate 57)

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ODONTOSORIA CHINENSIS (L.) J. SM.Spore monolete, shape bilateral, size 24x45 µm. Colour deep brown. Ambtriangular. Spore appears plano-convex in lateral view and oblong in polarview. Exine smooth, perine granulose closely adhering to exine. (Plate 57)LINDSAEA ENSIFOLIA SW.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 32x40 µm. Colour brown. Sporesappear triangular in amb. Exine thick, slightly thinner at the corner. Perinedensely regulose.LINDSAEA HETEROPHYLLA DRYAND.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 30x37µm. Colour Brown. Ambtriangular. Exine deep brown. Perine densely granulose. (Plate 58)PTERIDIUM REVOLUTUM (BLUME) NAKAI.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 23x36 µm. Colour deep brown. Ambtriangular. Exine densely and prominently granulose, granulehemispherical. Perine absent. (Plate 58)MICROLEPIA SPELUNACE (L.) MOORESpores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 23x30 µm. Colour yellowish brown.Amb triangular, exine thick, densely and prominently granulose. Perineabsent. (Plate 58)CERATOPTERIS THALLICTROIDES (L.) BRONGN.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 104x128 µm, golden yellow. Ambtriangular. Exine striate, granulate i.e. with closely placed thick ridges,separated by channel like depressions all over except proximal pole wherea circular non ornamented area is present. The ridges are parallel to eachother forming complete concentric rings extending over equator to distalsurface. Perine absent. (Plate 59)

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ANOGRAMMA LEPTOPHYLLA (L.) LINKSpores trilete, shape tetrahedral. Size 34x38 µm, Colour Reddish brown.Amb triangular. Exine smooth. Perine folded, folds thin, regular, tendencyto form reticulation. (Plate 59)HEMIONITIS ARIFOLIA (BURM F.) MOORE.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 36x38 µm. Colour brown. Ambtriangular. The exine is wrinkled into thin and apparently solid folds. Thefolds appear like solid excrescences. (Plate 59)ADIANTUM INCISUM FORSSK.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 38x45 µm. Colour dark brown. Ambtriangular. Exine smooth, enveloped by perine. The perine rugulose withfaint rugulae, sometimes coalesced to form irregular ridges. (Plate 60)ADIANTUM PHILLIPENSE L.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 35x46 µm. Colour light brown. Ambtriangular. Exine Smooth, enveloped by perine. Perine is prominentlygranulose. (Plate 60)ADIANTUM RADDIANUM C.PRESLSpores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 40x58 µm. Colour light brown. Ambtriangular. Exine smooth and enveloped by perine. Perine rugulose bearsvery faint, crowded granulae. (Plate 60)CHEILANTHES TENUIFOLIA (BURM F.) SW.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 40x44 µm. Colour light brown. Ambtriangular. Sclerine (Exine and perine is not differentiable) present. Exineand perine not differentiated, smooth. (Plate 60)

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ALEURITOPTERIS ANCEPS (BLANF.) PANIGRAHISpores trilete, shape globose to subglobose, size 50x57 µm. Colour blackishbrown. Amb circular. Perine is slightly granulose and much foldedirregularly zigzag, appearing to be solid protrusions. (Plate 61)PITYROGRAMMA CALOMELANOS (L.) LINK VAR. CALOMELANOSSpores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 40x56 µm. Colour deep reddishbrown (honey coloured). Amb triangular. Exine rugulose on proximal andreticulate on the distal, Regulae on the proximal surface irregularlyarranged, reticulate distal surface irregular. Two rows of reticulae nearequatorial collar. (Plate 61)ACTINIOPTERIS RADIATA (SW.) LINKSpores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 45x60 µm. Colour pale brown. Ambtriangular. Exine verrucose on proximal side and rugulose on the distal.The two surfaces are separated by an equatorial collar like exinous ridge.Equatorial collar uninterrupted. (Plate 61)PTERIS BIAURITA LINN.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 40x54 µm. Colour reddish brown.Amb triangular. Exine rugulose on the distal and verrucate on proximalsurface. The granules are arranged in regular rows on either side ofequatorial collar. Equatorial collar uninterrupted. Perine absent. (Plate 62)PTERIS PELLUCIDA C.PRESL.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 40x54 µm. Colour light yellowishbrown. Amb triangular. Exine rugulose to nearly spinulose. A gradualreduction is observed in rugulae from distal to proximal pole. Rugulae onthe distal surface are relatively longer than those towards equatorialregion. The rugulae in equatorial region are spine like while those on

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proximal surface are verucca like. The Equatorial collar entire. Perineabsent. (Plate 62)PTERIS ENSIFORMIS BURM.F.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 38x42 µm. Colour deep brown. Ambtriangular. Exine densely baculate with baculae on the distal surface.Equatorial collar uninterrupted. Perine absent.PTERIS VITTATA L.Spores trilete, shape tetrahedral, size 36x44 µm. Colour yellowish brown.Amb triangular. Exine rugulose on proximal surface and homobrochate onthe distal. Rugulae sparsely spaced. The reticulation of spore wall on thedistal portion contains pentagonal lumina bearing bucculate excrescence inthe centre. The Equatorial collar is interrupted often and connected todistal side of reticulate thickenings. Perine absent. (Plate 62)ASPLENIUM INAEQUILATERALE WILLD.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 22x30 µm. Colour light brown.Plano-convex in lateral view. Exine very faintly granulose all over, whileperine sparsely spinulose. Characterized by having sharp thin folds with alophate pattern. (Plate 63)ASPLENIUM POLYDON G. FOSTER.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 24x36 µm. Colour Brown. Planoconvex in lateral view and elliptical in polar view. Exine very denselygranulose all over, while perine highly wrinkled into sharp folds formingangular, conical crests. (Plate 63)THELYPTERIS PROLIFERA (RETZ.) C.F.REEDSpores monolete, shape bilateral, size 28x42 µm. Colour brown. Sporeappear plano convex in lateral view and elliptical in polar view. Exine

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smooth, perine nearly hyaline, loose and densely spinulose. Perine layersare sparsely wrinkled into short, thin, lobate to angular folds. (Plate 63)THELYPTERIS PARASITICA (L.)Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 27x38 µm. Colour brown. Exinesmooth, perine prominently granulose and wrinkled into irregular, sparseconical folds. (Plate 64)ATHYRIUM HOHENACKERANUM (KUNZE) T. MOORESpores monolete, shape bilateral, size 30x42 µm. Colour light brown. Sporeappears plano convex in lateral view and oblong in polar view. Exine thick,perine smooth and highly wrinkled into thin, angular and elongated foldsresembling winged appearance.DIPLAZIUM ESCULANTUM (RETZ.) SW.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 26x46 µm. Colour light brown. Sporeappear concavo-convex in lateral view and oblong in polar view. Exinedensely regulate with short irregular regulae. Perine absent. (Plate 64)BLECHNUM ORIENTALE LINN.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 22x33 µm. Colour yellowish brown.Spore appears plano convex in lateral view and elliptic in polar view. Exineslightly striate to low rugulate with medium perforate surface while perineis smmoth, loose, devoid of any folds. (Plate 64)BOLBITIS ASPLENIFOLIA (BORY.) K. IWATS.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 34x50 µm. Colour dark brown. Sporeappears oblong in polar view. Exine thick, perine fold protruding fromexine surface. Prominent mesh like reticulation of perine is observed.(Plate 65)

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BOLBITIS PRESLIANA (FEE) CHING.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 28x37 µm. Colour dark brown. Exinethick, perine irregularly regulose, more or less adherent to exine andscarcely folded. (Plate 65)BOLBITIS SEMICORDATA (BAKER) CHING.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 30x40 µm. Colour dark brown. Exinethick, microechinate, perine prominently granulose, wrinkled into small,nearly semicircular folds that are aggregated and more or less regularlyarranged. (Plate 65)HYPODEMATIUM CRENATUM (FORSSK.) KUHN.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 32x45 µm. Colour reddish brown.Spore appears plano-convex in lateral view and oblong in polar view. Exinesmooth. Perine densely granulate, loose and folded into thin often sinuousfolds which are broadly conical. (Plate 66)NEPHROLEPIS BROWNII (DESVAUX) HOVEN. & MIYAM.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 22x32 µm. Colour dull brown. Sporeappears oblong in polar view. Exine thick, perine wrinkled into slightlyelongated tubercule-like crowded folds. (Plate 66)NEPHROLEPIS CORDIFOLIA (L.) PRESLSpores monolete, Shape bilateral, size 20x34 µm. Colour Brown. Sporeappears oblong in polar view. Exine thick, perine wrinkled into regula-likefolds. Forms irregular reticulations, less conspicuous towards theproximal pole. (Plate 66)

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TECTARIA COADUNATA (J. SM.) C. CHR.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 32x44 µm. Colour brown. Sporeappears plano-convex in lateral view. Exine thick and densely spinulose.Perine nearly hyaline, densely granulate and elongated. (Plate 67)TECTARIA POLYMORPHA (WALL. EX HOOK.) COPEL.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 28x42x30 µm. Colour brown. Exinedensely spinulose with spinules having sharp apices. Perine smooth,wrinkled into elongated ridge like folds. (Plate 67)DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA (L.) J. SMITHSpores monolete, shape bilateral, size 30x50 µm. Colour pale brown. Sporeappears plano convex in lateral view and elliptical in polar view. Exinespinulose; spines slender and irregularly distributed, bucculate and withblunt apex. Perine absent. (Plate 67)PYRROSIA POROSA (C. PRESL) HOVENK.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 70x100 µm. Colour brown. Exinedensely and prominently verrucate with surface intermediate betweenverrucae granulose and verrucae subglobose. Perine absent.MICROSORUM MEMBRANACEUM (D.DON) CHING.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 40x65 µm. Colour yellowish green.Spore appears plano convex in lateral view and elliptical in polar view.Exine densely areolate with areoles uniformly distributed on the sporesurface. Perine absent. (Plate 68)MICROSORUM PUNCTATUM (L.) COPEL.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 34x50 µm. Colour yellowish green.Spore appears plano convex in lateral view and elliptic-oblong in polarview. Exine granulose; granules large. Perine absent.

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LEPISORUS NUDUS (HOOK.) CHING.Spores monolete, shape bilateral, size 38x58 µm. Colour yellowish brown.Exine densely and prominently granulose, ornamentation uniform all over.Perine absent. (Plate 68)DISCUSSIONThe results of Light Microscope (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) studies divide the spores of 44 species of fern into broadly two types,trilete and monolete. Trilete spores are found in 23 species representing 17genera. Monolete spores are found in 21 species representing 14 genera. Thevariation in colour of fern spores is perceptible. The spores reported inpresent investigation are mainly the shades of brown while other colours likeyellowish green (Microsorum species) and golden yellow coloured (as inCeratopteris thalictroides) spore were also evident during the presentinvestigation.The morphological characters of each species reported here, include thetype, shape, colour, size and surface (Table 5). The morphological charactersof each species reported in Belgaum district are summarized in Table 5 withspecial attention to the type, shape, size and colour.

Table 5. Summary of spore morphology with emphasis on type, shape,size and colour.

NAME OF SPECIES SPORETYPE SHAPE SIZE µM COLOUR

Aleuriopteris anceps Trilete Globose tosubglobose 50x57 Blackish BrownAngiopteris evecta Trilete Globose totetrahedral 22x29 Yellowish BrownOsmunda hugeliana Trilete Globose totetrahedral 52x64 Light BrownActiniopteris radiata Trilete Tetrahedral 45x60 Pale BrownAdiantum incisum Trilete Tetrahedral 38x45 Dark BrownAdiantum phillipense Trilete Tetrahedral 35x46 Light Brown

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Adiantum raddianum Trilete Tetrahedral 40x58 Light brownAnogramma leptophylla Trilete Tetrahedral 34x38 Reddish brownCeratopteris thallictroides Trilete Tetrahedral 104x128 Golden YellowCheilanthes tenuifolia Trilete Tetrahedral 40x44 Light BrownCyathea crinita Trilete Tetrahedral 27x34 light brownDicranopteris linearis Trilete Tetrahedral 24x32 Hyaline to lightbrownHemionitis arifolia Trilete Tetrahedral 36x38 BrownLindsaea ensifolia Trilete Tetrahedral 32x40 BrownLindsaea heterophylla Trilete Tetrahedral 30x37 BrownLygodium flexuosum Trilete Tetrahedral 85x100 Deep BrownMicrolepia spelunace Trilete Tetrahedral 23x30 Yellowish BrownPityrogramma calomenos Trilete Tetrahedral 40x56 Deep ReddishBrownPteridium revolutum Trilete Tetrahedral 23x36 Deep BrownPteris biaurita Trilete Tetrahedral 40x54 Reddish BrownPteris ensiformis Trilete Tetrahedral 38x42 Deep BrownPteris pellucida Trilete Tetrahedral 40x54 Light YellowishBrownPteris vitatta Trilete Tetrahedral 36x44 Yellowish BrownAsplenium inaequilaterale Monolete Bilateral 22x30 Light BrownAsplenium polydon Monolete Bilateral 24x36 BrownAthyrium hohenckerianum Monolete Bilateral 30x42 Light BrownBlechnum orientale Monolete Bilateral 22x33 Yellowish BrownBolbitis asplenifolia Monolete Bilateral 34x50 Dark BrownBolbitis presliana Monolete Bilateral 28x37 Dark brownBolbitis semicordata Monolete Bilateral 30x40 Dark BrownDiplazium esculantum Monolete Bilateral 26x46 Light BrownDrynaria quercifolia Monolete Bilateral 30x50 Pale BrownHypodematium crenata Monolete Bilateral 32x45 Reddish BrownLepisorus nudus Monolete Bilateral 38x58 Yellowish BrownMicrosoriummembranaceum Monolete Bilateral 40x65 Yellowish greenMicrosorium puntuatum Monolete Bilateral 34x50 Yellowish greenNephrolepis brownii Monolete Bilateral 22x32 Dull BrownNephrolepis cordifolia Monolete Bilateral 20x34 BrownOdontosoria chinensis Monolete Bilateral 24x45 Deep BrownPyrrosia porosa Monolete Bilateral 70x100 Yellowish BrownTectaria coadunata Monolete Bilateral 32x44 BrownTectaria polymorpha Monolete Bilateral 28x42 BrownThelypteris parasiticus Monolete Bilateral 27x38 BrownThelypteris prolifera Monolete Bilateral 28x42 Brown

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From the table, it is evident that, most of the trilete spores aretetrahedral and amb is triangular except the species Aleuriopteris anceps,

Angiopteris evecta, Osmunda hugeliana are Globose while monolete spores aremostly bilateral. They appear reniform or ellipsoidal in amb.Most of spores are found in the size classes: medium and large. The sporesizes varied between a range of 15 and 130 μm. This observation is inagreement with Tryon’s statement (1986) that homosporus ferns size isbetween 15-150 μm. The largest spores are observed of Ceratopteris

thalictroides, Pyrrosia porosa and Lygodium flexuosum. Of them, the largestspores were reported in Ceratopteris thalictroides (104x128 μm). Smallestspores were apparent in both the Nephrolepis species. The majority of thelarge sized spores are globose.The spore surface includes exine and perine which are mainlyresponsible for the ornamentations on the spore surface. The perine forms theouter surface and often the characteristic contours of the spores. Themorphology revealed here via scanning electron microscopy and lightmicroscopy usually expands previous knowledge of fern spores (Tryon andLugardon, 1990). Spore surface ornamentations were are found to be cristate,folded, granulate, perforate, reticulate, rugate, rugulate, tuberculate andverrucate and some combination of these.According to Bir (1977), trilete spores characterize Cyatheoid,Schizaeoid, Adiantoid, Pteroid, Chelanthoid and Gymnogrammeoid groupswhile monolete spores were observed in Aspidoid, Athyroid, Blechnoid andPolypodiod ferns. The present investigation is in agreement with the Bir’sobservations.

PLATE 56

Angiopteris evectaPolar viewAngiopteris evectaEquatorial viewAngiopteris evectaSurface enlarged

OsmundahugelianaProximal viewOsmundahugelianaEquatorial viewOsmundahugelianaSurface enlarged

Dicranopteris linearisPolar viewDicranopteris linearisEquatorial viewDicranopteris linearisSurface enlarged

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar =10 µm

PLATE 57

Lygodium flexuosumProximal surfaceLygodium flexuosumDistal viewLygodium flexuosumSurface enlarged

Cyathea crinitaEquatorial viewCyathea crinitaProximal surfaceCyathea crinitaSurface enlarged

Odontosoria chinensisDistal surfaceScanning electron micrographs of

Bar =10 µm

Odontosoria chinensisPolar viewOdontosoria chinensisSurface enlarged

PLATE 58

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Lindsaea heterophyllaProximal surfaceLindsaea heterophyllaDistal viewLindsaea heterophyllaSurface enlarged

Pteridium revolutumPolar viewPteridium revolutumProximal surfacePteridium revolutumSurface enlarged

Microlepia speluncaePolar viewMicrolepia speluncaeEquatorial viewMicrolepia speluncaeSurface enlarged

PLATE 59

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Ceratopteris thalictroidesPolar viewCeratopteris thalictroidesDistal viewCeratopteris thalictroidesSurface enlarged

Anogramma leptophyllaDistal viewAnogramma leptophyllaProximal viewAnogramma leptophyllaSurface enlarged

Hemionitis arifoliaDistal viewHemionitis arifoliaProximal viewHemionitis arifoliaSurface enlarged

PLATE 60

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Adiantum incisumProximal viewAdiantum incisumSurface enlargedCheilanthes tenuifoliaProximal view

Adiantum phillipenseDistal viewAdiantum phillipenseProximal view

Adiantum raddianumDistal viewAdiantum raddianumProximal view

Cheilanthes tenuifoliaDistal view Cheilanthes tenuifoliaSurface enlarged

PLATE 61

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Aleuropteris ancepsProximal viewAleuropteris ancepsDistal viewAleuropteris ancepsSurface enlarged

Pityrogramma calomenosProximal view Actiniopteris radiataProximal viewActiniopteris radiataDistal viewActiniopteris radiataSurface enlarged

Pityrogramma calomenosDistal viewPityrogramma calomenosSurface enlarged

PLATE 62

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Pteris biauritaProximal viewPteris biauritaDistal viewPteris biauritaSurface enlarged

Pteris pellucidaProximal view Pteris vittataProximal viewPteris vittataDistal viewPteris vittataSurface enlarged

Pteris pellucidaDistal viewPteris pellucidaSurface enlarged

PLATE 63

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Asplenium inaequilateralePolar viewAsplenium inaequilateraleEquatorial viewAsplenium inaequilateraleSurface enlarged

AspleniumpolyodonPolar view Thelypteris proliferaPolar viewThelypteris proliferaEquatorial viewThelypteris proliferaSurface enlarged

AspleniumpolyodonEquatorial viewAspleniumpolyodonSurface enlarged

PLATE 64

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Thelypteris parasiticaEquatorial viewThelypteris parasiticaDistal viewThelypteris parasiticaSurface enlarged

Diplazium esculentumEquatorial view BlechumorientaleEquatorial viewBlechumorientaleDistal viewBlechumorientaleSurface enlarged

Diplazium esculentumProximal viewDiplazium esculentumSurface enlarged

PLATE 65

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Bolbitis asplenifoliaPolar surfaceBolbitis asplenifoliaEquatorial viewBolbitis asplenifoliaSurface enlarged

Bolbitis preslianaEquatorial viewBolbitis preslianaEquatorial viewBolbitis preslianaSurface enlarged

Bolbitis semicordataEquatorial viewBolbitis semicordataPolar viewBolbitis semicordataSurface enlarged

PLATE 66

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Hypodematium crenatumProximal viewHypodematium crenatumDistal viewHypodematium crenatumSurface enlarged

Nephrolepus browniiProximal viewNephrolepus browniiDistal viewNephrolepus browniiSurface enlarged

Nephrolepus cordifoliaProximal viewNephrolepus cordifoliaDistal viewNephrolepus cordifoliaSurface enlarged

PLATE 67

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

Tectaria coadunataEquatorial viewTectaria coadunataDistal viewTectaria coadunataSurface enlarged

Tectaria polymorphaEquatorial viewTectaria polymorphaPolar viewTectaria polymorphaSurface enlarged

Drynaria quercifoliaEquatorial viewDrynaria quercifoliaDistal viewDrynaria quercifoliaSurface enlarged

PLATE 68

Scanning electron micrographs of

Bar denotes 10 µm

MicrosorummembranaceumEquatorial viewMicrosorummembranaceumDistal viewMicrosorummembranaceumSurface enlarged

Lepisorus nudusEquatorial viewLepisorus nudusDistal viewLepisorus nudusSurface enlarged

S p o r e m o r p h o l o g y a n d T a x o n o m y o f f e r n s o f B e n g a l

SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT

B. SPOREMORPHOLOGY

OF THE FERNS OF BELGAUM DISTRICT

S p o r e m o r p h o l o g y a n d T a x o n o m y o f f e r n s o f B e n g a l

SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT

C. DATABASESTUDIES

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The biological sciences encompass an enormous variety ofinformation, from the environmental sciences, which give us a view of howspecies live and interact in a world filled with natural phenomena to cellbiology, which provide knowledge about the inner structure and functionof the cell and beyond. All this information requires classification,organization and management (Kontijevskis, 2007). The knowledgegenerated through the research is meant to the delivery to public domainfor the well being of human race in general in one or other way. Theknowledge of biodiversity is distributed amongst many different generaland specialized books and other printed materials throughout the world.The use of this knowledge, when needed, becomes a hectic process to findout the particular information from the heaps of the material in printedform. This sometimes makes it difficult to ensure the consistency ofinformation. There is increasing demand for data-basing of the biologicalknowledge for the sustainable and wise use helping to save the valuabletime of the scientific community.A flora may be that of the whole world, of a continent, of a country oreven of a smaller geographical region (Polumin and Stainton, 1984) is aninventory of the plants of a definite area or the sum total of plants in adefinite geographical area is called flora of the region (Iltaf et al., 2012).The digitizing the floras and faunas in the world is being prioritized. Manyof the developed countries have already made the databases of thebiodiversity and released as a website or in compact disc format for easyuse while many more are being worked out. The developing countries lagbehind take up the task of digitizing their biological wealth in a design that

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should accessible to the community whether scientific or the lay-man. Thiswill lead to the formation of the meta-database of the country’s biodiversityand ultimately the global biodiversity.The Fern Flora of Belgaum District generated as the outcome of thepresent investigation is a publication of the fern wealth of the district. Someof the previous attempts to account fern wealth can be found in literature(Blatter and Almeida, 1922 and Naiknaware, 1983), but the literatureseems to be scattered and is not easily accessible to all the peopleinterested in their further studies. The accounts were prepared at differenttimes by different authors and there are some differences in delimitationand circumscription of taxa.For the present investigation, the fern flora of Belgaum district hasbeen made into electronic version. The database of 49 species (44 fernspores with description) occurred in the forests of Belgaum district, whichconstitute about one third of ferns of Karnataka State, is prepared usingWYSIWYG web designer – XARA WEB DESIGNER MX PREMIUM (licensedcopy).The home page of the database-cum-website (Plate 69) shows title ofthe work, slide show of some of the species reported from Belgaum district,the name of the worker, the name of guide and hyperlink to enter mainscreen. The introduction page (Plate 70) shows the vision behindundertaking the research work. The present piece of work is dedicated tothe fond memory my teacher Late Prof. (Dr.) T. M. Patil. His photograph asthe token of dedication is placed at the top corner of right hand side of theintroduction page. The navigation of the website is in the left hand side of

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the page. The navigation has link ‘Why Belgaum?’ hyper-linking to “Why

Belgaum?” page which describes the intension behind the choosingBelgaum district for the exploration, taxonomic and spore morphologystudies of ferns.Taxonomy and Spore Morphology links open the sub-websites of thetaxonomy and spore morphology respectively. Index pages of Taxonomyand Spore Morphology sub-sites (Plate 71) have respective titles at the topof the pages. This is followed by four pictured buttons, each one for Key tofamilies of species, family wise species list, alphabetic list of species andtoggle switch between taxonomy and spore morphology sub-sites. Thetoggling is imperial for the easy switching from one to another.Species description page (Plate 72) has binomial of the species withauthority and citation at the top of the page, followed by its description.The links to the illustration of the species and distribution map for thespecies in Belgaum district are below IMAGE section in right hand side ofthe page. The spore picture takes to the page of spore morphology of thesame species.Spore morphology description page (Plate 73) has binomial of thespecies with authority followed by spore description. The SEM images areplace below the spore description. The fern picture in the bottom section ofthe right side navigated to the page of taxonomy of the same species.An attempt has been made to prepare digital fern flora of Belgaumdistrict (Karnataka) with special emphasis on diversity, distribution,taxonomy and spore morphology. It is envisaged that this database will beavailable online.

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Present research delivers an electronic resource of botanicalinformation to disseminate in simple, intuitive format to general users aswell as the practitioners of ferns. The internet and the World Wide Web areseen as the primary vehicle for this output. The generated resource in theform of website will serve as imperative constituent for creation ofKarnataka State’s electronic flora of vascular plants. It will also serve as anunderpinning for scientific community interested in the plant studies fromthe area and will prove as a platform for the forest officials and policymakers of the state for distribution, conservation practices.

a

b

Plate 69. Screenshot of the main page of the database (a) title of the work, (b) slide show of the species, (c) hyperlinkto enter main screen, (d) the name of the worker and (e) the name of guide

c

ed

ac

b

Plate 70. Screenshot of the introduction page of the database . (a) title of the work, (b) dedication and (c) navigation of the website

a

b

c d e

Plate 71. Screenshot of the index pages of taxonomy and spore morphology pages. (a) index pages of taxonomy page (b) indexpages of spore morphology page, (c) Key to families of species, (d) family wise species list, (e) alphabetic list of species and(f) toggle switch between taxonomy and spore morphology sub-sites.

c d e

f

a

c

b d

Plate 72. Screenshot of the species description page. (a) binomial of the species with authority, (b) description, (c) link to theillustration of the species, (d) distribution map of the species for Belgaum district, (e) link to spore morphologye

a

b

Plate 73. Screenshot of the spore morphology page. (a) binomial of the species with authority, (b) spore morphology, (c) scanningelectron microscopy images, (d) link to taxonomy of the species

c

d