Studies on homosporous ferns from Kashmir Himalayas - I: Taxonomy of

Ophioglossum vulgatum (Ophioglossaceae)

Keywords:
Cytotaxonomy, a homosporous fern, Kashmir Himalayas, India.
ABSTRACT:


Ophioglossum vulgatum L. collected from Jammu and Kashmir has been
described. The taxonomic studies along with the figures have been given. The present
work was carried out in order to study morphology, palynology in different species of
ferns growing in Jammu and Kashmir for providing precise account of these taxa and
their relationship with other members of the group.
056-059 | JRPS | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 1
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Authors:
Bharti Razdan (Kampasi)
and Bhellum BL.


Institution:
Department of Botany,
Govt. Degree College,
Kathua- 180 101, J & K,
India.


Corresponding author:
Bhellum BL.


















Email:
blbhellum@gmail.com.


Phone No:
09469213606


Web Address:
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documents/PS0016.pdf.
Dates:
Received: 15 Jan 2012 /Accepted: 24 Jan 2012 /Published: 23 Feb 2012
Article Citation:
Bharti Razdan (Kampasi) and Bhellum BL.
Studies on homosporous ferns from Kashmir Himalayas - I: Taxonomy of Ophioglossum
vulgatum (Ophioglossaceae).
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059
Original Research
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INTRODUCTION
Ophioglossum vulgatum L. is an interesting
genus of filicineae bearing only a simple leaf-process,
the so called sterile segment. It inhabits in cooler hilly
and shady places of the Himalayas which is considered
as the suitable place of its occurrence. From India the
taxonomic work on ferns has mainly come from
Beddome (1883), Clarke (1879) and Hope (1899- 1903).
In the last century much work on the taxonomy of Indian
ferns has not been done except for revision of about 18
genera and systematic list of ferns of various regions of
the country (Bir, 1977). In the meanwhile a few regional
floras as ferns of Northwestern Himalaya by Dhir (1980),
Fern Flora of Musoorie Hills by Dhir and Sood (1981),
Pteridophytic Flora of Garhwal Himalaya by Bir et al.
(1983) were published. As to the fern flora of Jammu and
Kashmir state is concerned much work has not been done
so far except for enumeration of ferns of Kashmir by
Stewart (1945, 50, 57) who provided distribution notes
on the various species. While preparing an annotated
catalogue of the vascular plants of Pakistan and Kashmir,
Stewart (1972) listed 92 species of ferns under 34 genera
and 8 families from Kashmir. Khullar and Gupta (1978)
studied cytotaxonomy of some fern genera from Western
Himalayas. There are also few scattered reports on the
ferns of the region. Recently, Biplab (2011) carried out
studies on Pteris from Eastern Himalayas. In spite of all
this there is an urgent need of preparing a consolidated
account of this interesting group because so far many
areas of Kashmir region have not been explored at all
and same is true about the Jammu region. Ophioglossum
is widely distributed genus of 26 species (Clausen, 1938;
Copeland, 1947 recognised 56 species) of these 12
(Khandelwal 1985) occur in India and only one O.
vulgatum L. is reported from Kashmir. Beddome (1883)
described 5 species of Ophioglossum on the basis of
morphology. Clarke (1879) while reviewing the ferns of
northern India, made a mention of Ophioglossum
vulgatum L. Chakravarty (1951) studied this genus with
special reference to taxonomy and distribution. The
cytomorphology of the species shows a great variation
with respect to morphology and chromosome numbers.
In this communication, the authors have made an attempt
to work out the cytotaxonomy of Ophioglossum
vulgatum L. Spore morphology of the species has also
been studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present study is based on collection of
specimens of Ophioglossum vulgatum from Kashmir
Himalaya. The identity of these specimens was
confirmed. The morphlolgical notes are based on the
Herbarium specimens, these also include detailed study
on spores of the species. For studying spores, were
mounted in Hoyers medium (Anderson, 1954) which
have the following contents:
Chloral hydrate : 200 gm
Glycerine : 20 c.c.
Distilled water : 50 c.c.
Gum Arabic : 30 gm
Since the gum Arabic was not available, gum
acacia was used. The above mentioned contents were
stirred well and mixed at room temperature to form
mountant. The measurement for cell lumen and cell wall
thicking were taken with the help of ocular micrometer.
Camera lucida drawings were sketched at table height
under 9 x X 1x or 9x X 2x magnifications.
The present study was based on collection of
specimens of Ophioglossum vulgatum from Kashmir
Himalaysa. The identity of these specimens was
confirmed in the Laboratory.

TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION
Ophioglossum vulgatum L., Sp. Pl. 2, 1062. 1753. O.
unifolium Gilib., Exerc. Phytol. 2, 554. 1792; O.
polyphyllum A. Br., Apud Seubert, Fl. Azor. 17. 1844. O.
mircrostichum Ach. Vet. Ak. Handl, 59. t. 1899.(Fig. 1 ).
Small herbaceous fern; fertile plant 25- 30 cm
Razdan et al., 2012
057 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059
tall. Root-stock fleshy, brownish with numerous roots,
spread horizontally along the substratum. Frond
solitary15- 25 cm long, basal stalk at the height of 4.5- 7
cm bearing 3.5- 7 cm long vegetative fleshy blade,
smooth, entire, venation reticulate. Fertile segment spike,
10- 15 cm long arising from the base of blade; spike
bears a row of crowded sporangia along each margin.
Sporangia open along transverse slits. Spores yellowish,
monolete, globose, tetrahedral 40.6 x 35.9 m with pitted
exine, laesura 11.3 m. (Fig. 2).
Specimens examined: Dachigam BR1, BR2, BR3, BR4,
BR5 in moist meadows, usually in shade; Padder BLB.
1228.
Distribution: INDIA: Assam, Bengal, Bihar, South
India, East Himalaya, W. Himalaya; Burma; Srilanka;
Malaya Peninsula.
Locally the fern is called Chonchur and is used
as a vegetable. It possesses vulnerary, detergent and
antiseptic properties for which it is used as a remedy for
wounds. The mucilaginous and antringent decoction of
the rhizome is used as lotion for boils in South Africa.

DISCUSSION
Mehra (1961) drew attention to the existence of
species complexes and their bearing on taxonomy of taxa
and stated that study of some of these taxa bring to light
how they have successfully exploited all the methods of
evolutionary advances prevalent in the angiosperms.
Among the factors responsible for diversity he
mentioned mutagenic changes, autoploidy, and
hybridization (Trichomonas bipinnatum complex),
autoploidy and gene mutations (Marsilea miuta
complex), high grade polyploidy and advantage of
propagation (Ophioglossum vulgatum complex).
From the present observation, it is clear that
Himalayan species of Ophioglossum vulgatum L. shows
high grade polyploidy and advantageous for vegetative
propagation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
One of the authors (BR) is highly grateful to late
Prof. P. Kachroo and Prof. S. S. Bir for encouragement
and valuable suggestions.

REFERENCES
Anderson LE. 1954. Hoyers solution as a rapid
permanent mounting medium for bryophytes.
Bryologists 51(3):242-244.

Razdan et al., 2012
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059 058
Fig. 1 Ophioglossum vulgatum L. (Scale- 10 cm)
Fig. 2 Spore of Ophioglossum vulgatum L.
40.6 x 35.9 m


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Razdan et al., 2012
059 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2012) 1: 056-059
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