RESEARCH NOTES (IV) A FILMY FERN: CREPIDOMANES LATEALATUM (BOSCH) COPEL. NEW TO NORTHERN WESTERN GHATS OF INDIA

摘要

Filmy ferns are the members of Hymenophyllaceae, with about 800 species, mostly in the tropics and India is having 40 species and 2 varieties under 12 genera distributed in two families. Twelve species and two varieties have been included from South India by Dixit (1984).The Northern Western Ghats constitute a mountain range along the western side of Maharashtra and Gujarat state. It included four UNESCO World Heritage sites which support thousands of flora and fauna. The pteridophytes are an integral component of floraldiversity. Hence it was considered to explore the pteridophytic flora of Maharashtra part of Northen Western Ghats. During the survey of pteridophytes from Northern Western Ghats of India authors came across a filmy fern Crepidomanes latealatum (Bosch)Copel. The Crepidomanes latealatum (Bosch) Copel is collected from Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary (fall in Northern Western Ghats) near Nauja waterfall, of Patan tahsil (Maharashtra) in between 2500-3000 ft. which is being recorded as new to Northern Western Ghats. It is reported for the first time from Northern Western Ghats of India.