Cytology of Thirty Species of Ferns from the Palni Hills (South India)

Abstract

1. Chromosome numbers for thirty species of ferns indigenous to the Palnis have been reported in the present study. All these numbers except those of Botry-chium lanuginosum and Sphaerostephanos unitus are first reports from the Palnis. 2. the following species are studied cytologically for the first time from S. India: Botrychium daucifolium, Macrothelypteris ornata, Christella papilio, Poly-stichum setiferum, Hypodematium crenatum. 3. Chromosome numbers for the following species have been reported for the first time: Adiantum zollingeri, Microlepia majuscula, Thelypteris confluens, Dipla-zium sp. (a), D. travancoricum. 4. the present study taken together with the previous reports reveals the existence of new cytotypes in the following species: Adiantum raddianum. Macrothelypteris omata, Christella dentata, Cyclosorus interruptus, Diplazium esculentum, Poly-stichum setiferum, Hypodematium crenatum. 5. Out of fifty three species of ferns known cytologically from the Palnis thirty are polyploids (60 per cent). © 1984, Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology. All rights reserved.