Abstract

FLORA OF PTERIDOPHYTES FROM CHOONDAL PANCHAYATH OF THRISSUR DISTRICT, KERALA

*Seena K. K. and Varghese C. D.

ABSTRACT

The ferns are considered as primitive among vascular plants. Most of the pteridophytes grow in moist and shady places. The graceful nature and delicate appearance of leaves enable them to be considered as valuable ornamental plants. Pteridophytes are more common in humid places because they depend on water for their gametes to fecundate one another. In humid environments their reproduction is more intense and they proliferate. Pteridophytes are the pioneer colonizers on land, characterized with independent alternation of generation and primitive vasculature. They are very conspicuous and elegant elements of our present day flora, and constituted an important source of food for terrestrial animals. They are beautiful elements of biodiversity and occur in wide range of habitats from sea level to mountain tops. All human activities disturb the vegetation by eliminating many species. So an up to date study is very important for knowing about flora, especially in the case of pteridophytes, their correct identity, distribution, present status, economic and medicinal importance, and inter relationship in this area. This is the first report of pteridophytes from choondal panchayath in thrissur district, Kerala. A rich diversity of 36 pteridophytic plant species belonging to 26 genera and 19 families in the present work. Out of 36 species, 15 were medicinally important.

Keywords: Pteridophytes, choondal panchayath, Growth-Stages, Ecological distribution