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Chapter 8.4 SOME PECULIAR OBSERVATION

District Tehri Garhwal presents a rich & diverse Pteridophytic because of varying

elevations, along with tropical to alpine climate prevailing over the region. During the

floristic study of ferns of the study area, Tehri Garhwal, some peculiar characters were

observed. Only few of the ferns exhibiting these special characters were observed. These

special characters are as follows:

a) Froking of fronds

b) Insect feeding

c) Rooting nature

a.) Forking of fronds: During the exhaustive field survey, it was observed that

some polymorphic variation were present in two species of ferns, in the study area. This

may be due to their adaptability toward unfavourable environment, such as external stress

due to wind velocity, soil type, light, elevation, anthropogenic activities etc.

Manickam and Rajkumar (1999) has done a lot of work on the fern flora of Western

ghats, revealing that the polymorphism could be seen in varied range in the ferns frond. In

the present study Forking of frond was observed in Microsorium membranaceum &

Lepisorus clathraus. In L. clathratus forking was observed at 1/3 the length of lamina,

whereas in case of M. membranacemm, forking observed very close to the tip (Plate

8.4a).

b.) Insect feeding: Ferns also exhibits a unique relationship with the insects. Ferns

play a vital role in feeding the insect, their shelter and as a site for laying eggs. Insect

Phytphagy of ferns was also by many workers (Leeuwen, 1938; Pande & Pande 1991,

2002; Bera et al., 1994, Pande et al. 2009). During the present investigation, ferns-Insect

interrelationship was observed in three species, Dryopteris carolihopei, Pseudocyclosorus

canus & Tectaria coadunata (Plate 8.4b).

Dryopteris carolihopei- On crictical examination, insect feeding was observed on

the abaxial surface of the lamina. Sori were completely ingested, making a hole in the

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lamina, also leaving a white spider web like structure on the surface of lamina along the

sori: similar structure was reported by Pande & Pande, 1991 in Pronephrium nudatum.

Pseudocyclosorus canus- A similar study of feeding of sori was reported in P.

canus. In this case sori were completely feeded leaving a white structure but there was no

hole in the surface of lamina.

Tectaria coadunata- In Tectaria coadunata insects were observed on the adaxial

surface of lamina. In T. coadunata sori were intact, but there were marks of feeding of

lamina.

c.) Budding nature of ferns: During the study small buds were observed. These

buds were present on the apical region of the fronds, attached terminally or sub terminally

on the rachis, which serves the purpose of vegetative reproduction. Where these buds get

detached from the main plant body, it give rise to a new individual nearly the mother

plant, that is why this group of fern is known as working fern (Plate 8.4c).

Following ferns from the study area, exhibiting budding nature are:

a) Polystichum lentum

b) Woodwardia unigemmata

c) Ampelopteris prolifera

d) Adiantum incisum

e) Adiantum edgeworthii

f) Adiantum philippense

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SUMMARY

Pteridophytes form the conspicuous element of the vegetation of the Himalaya and

provide a link with higher vascular and lower non-vascular plants. During this investigation

a detailed study on the fern-flora of district Tehri Garhwal has been worked out which has

proved to be of very much importance to the flora of Tehri district of Garhwal Himalaya in

particular and North-western Himalaya in general. Tehri Garhwal is one of the western

most mountainous districts of the Uttarakhand State, located on the outer ranges of the mid

Himalayas which comprise low line peaks rising contiguously with the planes of the

northern India. The district lies between the parallels of 30º 03' and 30º 53' north latitude

and 77º 56' and 79º 04' east longitudes.

The plan followed in the present manuscript is the Introduction followed by a short

account of Geographical location, Geology, Soils, Climate, Vegetation, Previous

exploration, Systematic treatment, Ecology and Ethnobotanical notes of the study area. The

present work records 154 species of fern belonging to 55 genera and 28 families,

constituting 15.4% of total fern flora (1000 species cf. Dixit, 1984) of India.

The rock units exposed in various parts of Tehri Garhwal district are classified in

two broad geotectonic zones viz. Central or Higher Himalaya and Lesser Himalaya. The

Central Himalaya lies to the north of Main Central Thrust (MCT) whereas the Lesser

Himalaya occurs to the south of it. Major soil type of the study area is Hilly Soil, developed

from graniteferous biotite, sctics granites, gnesiss, phyllites. These are brown to dark

grayish in color and slightly acidic (pH 5.80 to 6.27) in reaction. The climate in Tehri

Garhwal district varies from cold temperate, tropical to sub-tropical. Mean maximum

temperature of the district is 36.5ºC and mean minimum temperature is 4.6ºC. Relative

Humidity in the area increases rapidly with the onset of monsoon and reaches maximum (85%)

during August, while Relative Humidity is minimum (25%) during May. The average annual

rainfall (AAR) of the district is 1395 mm.

Forest types of Tehri Garhwal is based on Mehra et al. (1971) and arranged

according to Champion and Seth classification of forest type of India (1968). The

vegetation of District Tehri Garhwal is greatly modified due to many natural factors. With

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the change in the forest and its types, the different plants species of different groups also

varies. District Tehri Garhwal harbours Tropical, Subtropical, temperate, subalpine to

alpine type of vegetation. Major forest types of the district are- Chir-Pine forest, Oak mixed

forest and coniferous forest. Diversity of ferns is high in subtropical and temperate forests,

whereas in the tropical and alpine region diversity of ferns is too meager.

The present work deals with the systematic treatment of ferns and is the result of

four year (2008-2012) of continuous exhaustive explorations done in different localities of

District Tehri Garhwal. As per the standard protocol suggested by Jain and Rao (1977),

collection of plant, pressing and herbarium preparation was done. The collected plant

species were identified with the help of taxonomic revisions, monographs and relevant

floristic account and later confirmed by consulting the esteemed herbaria (DD, BSD) of the

region.

Detailed field data such as locality of plant, habit, habitat, size, colour,

frequency of occurrence, ecology, phytogeography and ethnobotany, etc. were recorded

during the survey and collection tours. The details of rhizome, stipe, lamina, sporangia and

spore were also observed. Macroparts and microparts of plant, (rhizome, lamina, stipe,

pinna, pinnule, etc.) were also studied from unmounted duplicate specimens. Surface

sculpture of spore was also worked out with the help of Scanning Electron Microscope

(SEM) for identification of closely allied taxa. A total of 90 illustrated photo plates of its

kind showing details of micro and macro parts of plants were prepared for Indian

Himalayan ferns, about 20 plates of natural photographs of the plants and 5 plates of

scanning electron microscopic photographs were also appended.

In presentation of systematic treatment of fern species, the families are arranged

according to classification of Pichi-Sermolli (1977), with minor modification based on

Ching (1978). Bracketed keys for the identification of families, genera and species have

been prepared. However, the genera within each family and species within a genus is

arranged alphabetically. A detailed description of the taxon along with the correct name,

citation, basionym (if any) synonyms, chromosome number, specimen examined, earlier

records from the study area, habitat, distribution and taxonomic notes (wherever necessary)

have been given.

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In all 154 species of ferns were collected, out of which a total of 12 species of ferns

reported during the present investigation were found new to the Tehri Garhwal- Botrichium

multifidum, Botrichium ternatum, Loxogramma porcata, Onychium siliculosum,

Actinopteris radiata, Lygodium flexuosum, Cyrtomium caryotideum, Pyrrosia manii,

Lepisorus thunbergianus, Pteris biaurita, Asplenium tenuicaule, Vittaria flexuosa.

In addition to the above some interesting observations were also made for the fern

flora of the Tehri district, such as:

(i) Rhizomes are mainly erect or sub erect in terrestrial forms viz. Pteris

aspericaulis, Pteris vittata, Osmunda claytoniana, Athyrium drepanopterum,

Athyrium mackinnoniorum, Dryopteris chrysocoma, Dryopteris redactopinnata,

Polystichum squarrossum, Polystichum descretum, Woodwardia unigemmata etc.

However, a few terrestrial ferns show a creeping rhizome eg. Pteridium revolutum,

Hypolepis polypodiodes. Rhizomes are mainly creeping in case of epiphytes viz.

Araiostegia spp., Drynaria mollis, Drynaria propinqua, Lepisorus spp.,

Pichisermollia spp., Goniophlebium argutum, Polypodiodes spp., etc

(ii) Rhizomes are mainly scaly in most of the ferns, but in some ferns rhizome scales

are absent. In such type of ferns rhizome is covered with hairs viz. Hypolepis

polypodiodes, Lygodium flexuosum, Lygodium japonicum, Pteridium revolutum,

etc..

(iii) Stipe base in maximum numbers of ferns usually vary from pale yellow to pale

brown to dark brown. Whereas, in some ferns viz. Onychium cryptogrammoides,

Adiantum venustum, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Athyrium schimperi, etc. stipe base

blackish or purplish black.

(iv) Lamina or fronds in most of the ferns (around 90%) are isomorphic. While the

members of Botrychiaceae, Drynaria mollis, Drynaria propinqua, Onychium

siliculosum, Dryopteris cochleata, etc., lamina or fronds are dimorphic.

(v) A number of ferns are having simple lamina (Lepisorus spp., Pyrrosia spp.,

Microsorum membranaceum, etc.), while pinnatifid in Asplenium dalhousiae,

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Drynaria spp., Pichisermollia spp. In general lamina varies from unipinnate to

multipinnate.

(vi) Sori are linear as in Asplenium spp., Diplazium spp., Pteris spp., Vittaria spp.,

etc. and ‘J’ shaped in Athyrium spp. Sori in many fern species are circular viz.

Drynaria mollis, Drynaria propinqua, Lepisorus spp., Polystichum spp.,

Nephrolepis auriculata, Tectaria coadunata, etc. and reniform in case of Dryopteris

spp.

(vii) Depending upon the position, sori may be marginal eg. Pteris spp.,

submarginal Polystichum spp. or very close to costule eg. Glaphyroteridiopsis

erubescens.

(viii) On the basis of presence or absence of indusium, sori may be indusiate viz.

Pteris spp., Adiantum spp., Dryopteris spp., Polystichum spp. etc., or exindusiate

viz. Drynaria mollis, Drynaria propinqua, Lepisorus spp., Asplenium dalhousiae,

Asplenium ensiforme, Loxogramme porcata, etc.

(ix) Spores of the ferns may be perinate or non perinate, surface characters in ferns

varies from smooth to tuberculate, verrucose or spinulose.

(x) ‘Filmy ferns’ and ‘Tree ferns’ were neither collected by me nor by other workers

from district Tehri Garhwal.

(xi) Few ferns in the study area occur as weeds in cultivated fields and waste land

such as Onychium cryptogrammoides, Pteridium revolutum, Pteris vittata, etc.

(xii) Smallest fern reported from the study area is Anogramma rechisteinii and the

largest fern is Macrothelypteris ornata.

(xiii) Five dominant families of the Tehri Garhwal with total number of genera and

species are Dryopteridaceae (3:36), Polypodiaceae (9:22), Athyriaceae (3:17),

Thelypteridaceae (9:12), Aspleniaceae (1:9)

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(xiv) Five dominant genus of the Tehri Garhwal are Dryopteris, Polystichum,

Athyrium, Asplenium, Aleuritopteris.

(xv) Some of the ferns with rare occurrence in the study area are Botrichium

multifidum, Botrypus virginianus, Loxogramme porcata, Drynaria propinqua,

Pyrrosia manii, Onychium siliculosum, Pteris stenophylla, Adiantum myriosorum,

Anogramma rechisteinii, Woodsia lanosa, Athyrium rubricaule, Macrothelypteris

ornata, Phegopteris connectilis, Dryopteris Barbigera, Polystichium stimulans.

(xvi) A spiny rachis, rachilets and mid vein(s) of the pinnules was observed for the

first time in Pteris aspericaulis (Habit Plate 7.4(3)).

It was observed that the terrestrial species comprises around 52 percent (80 species),

while lithophytic plants constitute more than 11.5 percent (18 species). Epiphytic vegetation

constitutes approximately 9 percent (14 species) of ferns occurring in the Tehri District,

while both terrestrial and lithophytes constitutes 11.5 percent, both terrestrial and epiphyte

constitutes 5 percent, both lithophytes and epiphyte constitutes 10 percent. In addition to the

above a single aquatic fern Marsilea minuta was collected.

During the present survey about 62 ethnobotanically important ferns were recorded

with the help of locals coupled with the regional literature. 45 species of ferns were found

to be used for their ethnomedicinal values, 15 species are used as fodder, 9 species are

edible and 5 species are used in magico-religious practices.

The phytogeographical analysis reveals that the fern in the study area have shown

maximum resemblance with ferns of Nepal (92%), and least resemblance with ferns of

Andaman & Nicobar Islands (8%). Whereas, Eastern Himalaya and North East India

resembles 90%, Himanchal Pradesh 82%, Bhutan 69%, Jammu and Kashmir 64%, South

India 32% and Central India 27% to the ferns of the study area, apart from this 69% of the

flora resembles with Bhutan, 47% with Pakistan and 34% with Sri Lanka.

The probable effects of human activities regarding the use of environmental

resources have an adverse impact on the vegetation. The fern flora of District Tehri

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Garhwal is greatly modified due to many natural factors, such as velocity of wind,

draught conditions, storms, lightning, landslides, soil erosion, forest fire, direction of

slope and edaphic factors, and anthropogenic activities, such as shifting cultivation, wood

cutting, lopping, forest fire, grazing, afforestation, developmental activities (Construction

of Hydro-electric power projects, roads, building, etc.). We could not check all these

activities to a greater extent but can carry out these activities in well controlled manner so

that we could have maximum sustainable use of it.

Based on the studies, various mitigating measures were designed. In order to

mitigate probable impacts following measures could be taken to protect the fern diversity:

Conservation of natural habitat.

Controlled anthropogenic activities should take place within the natural habitat.

Plantation programs should be conducted.

Botanist should avoid the collection of threatened plants.

Quercus forest provides suitable environmental conditions for a large number of

ferns within its surrounding. Measures should be taken for Conserving Quercus

forests.

By declaring and managing area with rich fern diversity as ‘Fern Sanctuary’.

Fern species under RET category should be given a special attention.

Promoting the development of Eco-parks, Botanical gardens.

Tissue culture techniques should be promoted.

Fernatum should be established for the conservation of threatened species.

Conducting capacity building programs to educate the public about the role of ferns

in maintaining the ecological balance.

During the last some decades morphology, anatomy, palynology, and cytological

investigations of the Indian Pteridophytes have been progressing whereas our knowledge on

floristics, taxonomy, ecology, and phytogeography of this group is almost stagnant, in the

high range of Himalayas. The present investigation has provided complete information

about the diversity, ecology, phytogeography of ferns in district Tehri Garhwal. As heavy

rainfall, landslides etc. are very common during the rainy season in the district, a wide

range of flora is disturbed. Also many developmental projects on river Bhilangana, on

confluence of river Bhagirathi and on river Bhagirathi are going on, due to which the

district flora has faced a huge damage. Their extensive population in nature is gradually

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diminishing. Hence, concentrated efforts should be made for the conservation of these

naturally occurring fern species either in situ in gene sanctuaries or ex situ in fern houses or

botanical gardens. Also there is need to conduct awareness and afforestation programs for

supporting the biological diversity of ferns.

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