Monday, September 12, 2016

BEAUTIFUL FERNS

Ferns and fern allies are non-flowering plants. Although flowers are not present, the architecture of leaves is marvelous and most of the species are ornamental plants. 

"The bright coloured flowers are admired by the least intellectuals. But the beauty of form and texture of ferns require a higher degree of mental perception and a more cultivated intellect for its proper appreciation". Abraham Stansfield.

"Ferns in art convey the idea of solitary humility, frankness and sincerity. Because they conceal their grace and beauty in forest depth". Ferguson.


Cyathea crinita - Confined to South India and Sri Lanka - Endangered fern.
Fernary - Sacred Heart College, Shembaganur-Kodaikanal
Cyathea nilgirensis - Western Ghats -
Upper Kothayar
Endemic to South India



Several ferns have been named based on their beauty as follows:

Silver ferns              - Pteris argyraea, Pityrogramma calomelanos var. calomelanos
Peacock tail fern      - Actiniopteris radiata
Royal fern                - Osmunda species
Adder's tongue fern - Ophioglossum species
Spider fern               - Pteris multifida
Stag horn fern          - Ceratopteris thalictroides
"Nai sevi" fern
 ( Dog's ear fern)      - Hemionitis arifolia
Maiden hair ferns     - Adiantum species
Filmy ferns               - Hymenophyllum species, Trichomanes species
Bird's nest fern         - Asplenium nidus
Bird's foot fern         - Pellaea mucronifolia
Tongue like fern       - Pyrrosia lingua
Ostrich fern              - Metteuccia struthiopteris
Christmas fern          - Poystichum acrostichoides
Basket fern               - Dryopteris wallichiana
Horse tail                  - Equisetum sp.




Sunday, September 11, 2016

South Indian Pteridology

SOUTH INDIAN PTERIDOLOGY

      The major contributions on South Indian Pteridology starts with R. H. Beddome, followed by V. S. Manickam and V. Irudayaraj who published "Pteridophyte Flora of the Western Ghats, South India" on 1992 after a lapse of 128 years from the publication of " Ferns of Southern India" by R. H. Beddome (1864). South Indian pteridophytes are also well studied cytologically by various workers like Abraham, Ninan, Matthew,  Kuriachan, Bhavanandan, Sankariammal, Manickam, Irudayaraj and Dominic Rajkumar from Kerala and Tamilnadu. Unfortunately, without vouchers, much of cytological studies by workers from Kerala University is of no value. Cytology of ferns of the Western Ghats, South India by Manickam and Irudayaraj (1988) is with vouchers. Father V. S. manickam contributed a lot on South Indian ferns along with his team members. He has done systematically from Taxonomy, Ecology, Cytology, Phytochemistry and Conservation of South Indian Pteridophytes by establishing the internationally recognised herbarium, XCH (St. Xavier's College Herbarium), Centre for Biodiversity and Biotechnology and Kodaikanal Botanic Garden. He has published half a dozen books and hundreds of papers on South Indian Pteridophytes.  

     In Kerala, Dr. B. K. Nayara, Prof. P. V. Madhusoodanan and his students are eminent pteridologists who have contributed a lot to Ferns of the Western Ghats with the discovery of many new species. Pullaih, T and Rajagopal have also contributed knowledge on Pteridophytes of Andhrapradesh and Karnataka. 

        Today numerous young researchers mainly involved in investigating the medicinal uses of South Indian Pteridophytes. But, now a days, the interest on the field oriented research - Taxonomy is declined among the youngsters. Not only pteridophytes are endangered, but also pteridologists are endangered. We can not conserve the rare and endangered pteridophytes without having eminent Taxonomists-Pteridologists. The Indian Fern Society founded by late Prof. S. S. Bir encourages all the pteridologists by giving various Fellowship, certificates and medals.

Note: By seeing the video clip, enjoy the background music of a Tamil-Film song (Enna vilai Azhage in Kadhalar Dinam) by A. R. Rahman and know something about South Indian Pteridology.

Dr. V. IRUDAYARAJ

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Dehiscence of leptosporangium:

The leptosporangia with 64 or 32 spores dehisce in a definite way with the help of annulus present on the sporangia. The actual mechanism is the conversion of heat energy into mechanical energy. The direction of annulus (vertical or horizontal) determines the direction of dehiscence (horizontal or vertical). Based on the dehiscence mechanism of leptosporangia, scientists manufactured microactuator for the production of electricity. The annulus helps to dehisce the sporangium like a catapult. Dehiscence of fern leptosporangium