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.

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

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