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Phenology and Geographic Extension of Lycophyta and Fern flora in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Eastern Himalaya

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Abstract

Tropical and subtropical hilly vegetation in Himalayan regions are well suited for the taxonomical research because of the diverse habitat available in close proximity and the regions promote high species richness and endemism due to variation in slopes, soils, rocks, microclimate, exposure, latitude and altitude. Pteridophytes have evolved to fill the ecological niche between the angiosperms and the gymnosperms. During the course of recent study towards the pteridophytes of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in eastern Himalaya, a few new taxa are described and geographical distribution extension of several previously reported species have also come to light. Studies based mainly on collections made during the last 6  years have resulted in the revised description of the 19 species of lycophyta and ferns viz. Asplenium gueinzianum, Argostemma perakense, Asplenium sinense, Cyclosorus crinipes, Diplazium pseudosetigerum, Hymenasplenium cheilosorum, Lemmaphyllum microphyllum, , Lemmaphyllum rostratum, Loxogramme chinensis, Lygodium microphyllum, Microlepia hancei, Microlepia rhomboidia, Neocheiropteris zippelii, Pleopeltis macrosphaera, Pseudocyclosorus falcilobus, Pteris cadieri var. hainanensis, Pyrrosia lanceolata, Pyrrosia longifolia and Tectaria paradoxa from the Meghalaya state recorded for the first time. Full species citations, taxonomic notes, phenology time, chromosome counts, ecology, specimen studied, previously known distributions and citation records are given for all taxa. Recent collections show the richness of the flora of Meghalaya and permit more accurate taxonomic and phytogeographic comparisons with lycophyta and fern flora from adjacent areas.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Joint-Director, Botanical Survey of India, Shillong for allowing herbarium consultation, and Head Department of Botany, Gauhati University for providing necessary facilities. The authors are thankful to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), New Delhi for the financial assistance and Department of Forests, Meghalaya for field assistance.

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  1. Plant Systematic Section, Plant Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu-Tawi, India

    Bikarma Singh

  2. Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India

    S. K. Borthakur

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Correspondence to Bikarma Singh.

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Singh, B., Borthakur, S.K. Phenology and Geographic Extension of Lycophyta and Fern flora in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Eastern Himalaya. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 85, 291–301 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-014-0342-7

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