Research Article | Published: 01 December 2016

Taxonomic Discussion on Tree ferns of Great Nicobar Island, with a Note on Occurrence of Cyathea contaminans (Wall.) Copel. in India

Bhupendra Singh Kholia and Bipin Kumar Sinha

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 39 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 401-405 | 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2016-UM6FBE | Cite this article

Abstract

In present communication, based on the detailed exploration, field observation and herbarium study, the Tree Ferns of Nicobar Islands are taxonomically discussed in detail. Only two endemic species, Cyathea albosetacea (Bedd.) Copel. and Cyathea nicobarica N.P. Balakr. & Dixit were known to occur in Nicobars Islands, but based on the detailed observation on type specimens and observation of live plants growing in type locality and other part of Nicobars both are found to be conspecific. Therefore, Cyathea nicobarica is merged here into Cyathea albosetacea. During present study, an additional south east asian tree fern Cyathea contaminans (Wall.) Copel. is found growing in Great Nicobar and reported here an addition to the Nicobar Island for the first time.

Keywords

Tree ferns, Nicobar Island, New Record

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Abstract Keywords References About this Article

Fig. 1

Cyathea albosetacea- A. Habit, B-C Juvenile plants showing dense hairs and scales on rachis; D-E Holotype of Cyathea nicobarica showing dense hairs on stipe rachis and costa; F. Part of young pinnae showing scales and hairs on rachis, white hairs on costa and bullet scales on segments along the midvein; G-H. Segments showing mature sori and hairy induments on sori and costa.

Fig. 2

Cyathea albosetacea- A. Habit, B. Part of stipe showing spines and white glaucous colour, C –E. Undersurface of Juvenile plants showing white glaucous lust, glabrous undersurface without hairs or scales, muricated rachis and naked sori.

References

1. Balakrishnan, N. P. and Dixit, R. D. (1987). Cyathea nicobarica- A new species of Tree fern from Nicobar Islands, India. Indian J. For. 10(1): 43-45.

Google Scholar

2. Beddome, R. H. (1876). Supplement to the ferns of Southern India and British India. 1-28. t. 346- 390. Madras.

Google Scholar

3. Beddome, R.H. (1883). Handbook to the Ferns of British India: Ceylon and the Malay Peninsula; with Supplement 1892. Thacker, Spink, and Co., Calcutta, India. I-XIV, 1-500+110. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.101756

4. Clarke, C.B. (1880). A. review of ferns of Northern India. Rep. 1984. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun.

Google Scholar

5. Dixit, R. D. (1984). A census of the Indian pteridophytes, Flora of India, Ser. 5: 1-177. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah.

Google Scholar

6. Dixit, R. D. (1998). Taxonomic studies in the family Cyatheaceae (Tree ferns) in India. Indian Fern J. 15:29-43.

Google Scholar

7. Dixit, R.D. and Sinha, B.K. (2001). Pteridophytes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun.

Google Scholar

8. Fraser-Jenkins, C. R. (2008). Taxonomic Revision of Three Hundred Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes with a revised census list, a new picture of fern taxonomy and nomenclature in the Indian subcontinent. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun.

Google Scholar

9. Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. (1997). New species syndrome in Indian pteridology and the ferns of Nepal: i-v, 1-403, with errata. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun, India.

Google Scholar

10. Fraser-Jenkins, C.R., Gandhi, K.N., Kholia, B.S. and Benniamin, A. (2017). An annotated checklist of Indian pteridophytes Part-1 (Lycopodiaceae to Thelypteridaceae). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun.

Google Scholar

11. Fraser-Jenkins, C.R., Kandel, D.R. and Pariyar, S. (2015). Ferns and Fern-Allies of Nepal. Part-1. National Herbarium and Plant laboratories, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Kathmandu.

Google Scholar

12. Holttum, R. E. (1963). Cyatheaceae in Flora Malesiania. Ser. II 1 (2) : 65-176.

Google Scholar

13. Holttum, R. E. (1965). Tree-Ferns of the genus Cyathea Sm. in Asia (excluding Malaysia). Kew Bull. 19(3): 463-487. https://doi.org/10.2307/4108203

Google Scholar

14. Holttum, R.E. (1965a). Tree ferns of the genus Cyathea in Java. Reinwardtia, 7, 5- 8.

Google Scholar

15. Kholia, B. S. (2011). Sikkim Himalayan Tree Ferns: Diversity, Distribution, Uses, Economic Potentials and Conservation. In: R. A. Singh (ed.) Geology, Biodiversity & Natural Resources of Himalaya. Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital.

Google Scholar

16. Kholia, B. S. (2015). Tree Ferns of Northern India. In Souvineers National Conference on Cryptogamic research in india: Progress and Prospects. 28-29 September 2015. National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow.

17. Kholia, B. S., Singh, Lal Ji and Srivastava, S. K. (2016 ). Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex Hook.) Holttum, A new record to Andaman Islands. Ind. J. For. 39(1): 77-78.

Google Scholar

18. Kholia, B.S. (2010 ). Ferns and Fern- allies of Sikkim: A Pictorial Handbook Part- I. Sikkim State Biodiversity Board and Botanical Survey of India, Gangtok.

Google Scholar

19. Kurz, S. (1876 ). A Sketch of the vegetation of the Nicobar Islands. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal. 3:105-164.

Google Scholar

20. Scott, J. (1874 ). Notes on the tree ferns of the Sikkim, with description of three new species, and a few supplemental remarks on their relations to the palms and cycads. Trans. Linn. Soc. London. 30(1): 1-44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1874.tb00001.x

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Kholia, B.S. and Sinha, B.K., 2016. Taxonomic Discussion on Tree ferns of Great Nicobar Island, with a Note on Occurrence of Cyathea contaminans (Wall.) Copel. in India. Indian Journal of Forestry, 39(4), pp.401-405. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2016-UM6FBE

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 December 2016

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: