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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The present study has been taken upto document the wealth of pteridopytes, their distribution,

endemism and medicinal importance in Thiruvananthapuram district by conducting field

study and referring published data. The study confirmed the existence of 77 species of
pteridopytes under 38 genera and 25 families in the study area. The important findings are:

1. Distribution of families, genera and species

A total of 77 species of Pteridopytes belonging to 38 genera and 25 families have been
observed in the study area. Of the 25 families, Pteridaceae is the dominant one in the study

area with 6 genera and 14 species followed by Thelipteridaceae ( 3 genera & 5 species )

Adiantacea and Selaginellaceae each with 5 species.Hence 46% of the total Pteridophytic
flora in the study area is constituted by these four families.

2. Additions to the flora of study area

There are 4 new records were added to the study region includes Helminthostachys zeylanica,
Pteris blumeana, Tectaria paradoxa, Christella parasitica. Besides the four new records

mentioned above another six species were found to be new addition to the study area, viz.,

Dryopteris concolor, Dryopteris ludens, Odontosoria chinensis, Selaginella wallichi,
Nephrolepis cordifolia, Cyclosorus interruptus. Hence the present investigation found out

additional information on the existence of 10 pteridophytes in Thiruvananthapuram district
(Table 1).

3. Rare, Endangered and Threatened species

The pteridopytes enlisted preferred habitats which include microclimatic conditions with

special preference for moist and shady places. The study resulted in the collection of some
rare, endangered and threatened species which are included in the endangered category in the

'Red Data Book'of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Cyathea gigantea, large tree fern about 2-6 m tall comes under RET category.

Helminthostachys zeylanica, very rare species mainly found in plantations. Asplenium

grevillei, a threatened species generally growing on the knee root of Myristica fatua in
Myristica swamps . Pteris multiaurita, rare species found in forest margins. Pteris reptans,

globally threatened species found in road cuttings (Table 2).

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