Ferns and fern allies of Palpa district, Central Nepal

Abstract

Flora includes both flowering and non-flowering vascular plant life, including Pteridophytic flora. Pteridophytes (Ferns and fern allies) are spore bearing non-seeded vascular plants having well-developed root, stem and leaves. They are the most primitive first vascular plant that appeared on the Earth in the mid-Paleozoic era, during the Silurian period which began 438 million years ago. At present day, globally there are 13,300 species of ferns and fern allies are recorded. Similarly, in Nepal altogether 583 taxa (550 spp. and 33 subsp.) are recorded with 99 genera and 32 families. Pteridophytic flora in Nepal are cosmopolitan in distribution, from East to West including Central and from lowland Terai to highland Himalayas. They are habitat specialists can thrive in cool, moist, humid and shaddy places of tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and alpine forests. They are also considered as economically important as well as ethnobotanically important for their food value, ornamental, medicine and many other purposes. The present study aimed for documenting floristic information of ferns and fern allies of Palpa district, Central Nepal. Altogether, 86 species of fern and fern allies belonging to 43 genera and 20 families are recorded. Among 20 families, Pteridaceae was the largest family with 9 genera and 19 species. Among 43 genera, Thelypteris was the largest genera having 10 species. On the basis of habitat, 63 species were terrestrial, 16 species were epiphytic and 7 species were lithophytic. Among them, maximum species found growing in terrestrial habitat. Similarly, on the basis of forest types, Schima-Castanopsis forest has the maximum number of species i.e. 34 which is due to the proper canopy and moisture content in this forest low number of species in Pinus roxburghii forest. In addition, for ethnobotanical use 21 species were recorded, having highest use for medicinal purposes. From the study, two species Athyrium falcatum and Antrophyum reticulatum were determined as the Nepalese threatened status. Thus, frequent floristic survey is crucial for the new documentation and to know the conservation status of ferns and fern allies.