On a Collection of Ferns from Shevaroy Hills, Salem District, Madras State

Abstract

The Shevaroys are situated to the north-east of Salem town at a distance of 26 km., the main bill station being Yercaud. Two seasonal explorations were made in the year 1958 and in all a total number of 51 species of ferns representing 14 families and 35 genera were collected.

In Shevaroys, the evergreen moist type of forest is seen where the vegetation is undisturbed and it is interesting to note that all the important fern families are represented here like Ophioglossaceae, Marattiaceae, Osmundaceae, Schizaeaceae, Gleicheniaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, Cyatheaceae and Polypodiaceae (sensu lato). Among the rare and interesting ferns, mention may be made of: Anemia tomentosa (Sav.) Sw, Antrophyum plantagineum (Cav.) Kaulf., Athyrium macrocarpum Bedd., Botrychium daucifolium Wall., B. lanuginosum Wall., Cyrtomium falcatum Presl var. caryotideum Wall., Dryopteris cochleata C., Chr., Hymenophyllum exsertum Wall, Leptochilus decurrens Blume, Lindsaea heterophylla Dry., Lygodium scandens Sw., Niphobolus gardneri (Mett.) Kunze, Osmunda regalis L., Pteris cretica L., P. quadriaurita Retz., var. argentea Bedd., and Trichomanes proliferum Blame.

The classification of Copeland is followed and the salient taxonomic features of the ferns collected are mentioned in the enumeration. Out of the plants listed Pteridaceae is well represented, the next in order being Aspidiaceae and Polypodiaceae (sensu stricto). The collections include a number of species which are new distributions to Salem District.