New records of Pteridophytes for Kashmir Valley, India

Abstract

Mir SA, Mishra AK, Reshi ZA, Sharma MP. 2014. New Records of Pteridophytes for Kashmir Valley, India. Biodiversitas 15: 131-136. During the recent field survey of district Shopian four species of Pteridophytes are reported for the first time that constitutes new records
for Kashmir valley. These species are Hypolepis polypodioides (Blume) Hook, Pteris stenophylla Wall. ex Hook. & Grev., Dryopteris
subimpressa Loyal and Dryopteris wallichiana (Spreng.) Hylander. The diagnostic features of H. polypodioides are presence of longcreeping
slender rhizome and eglandular, colorless or brown tinged hairs throughout the frond. P. stenophylla is characterized by having
dimorphic fronds and 3 to 5 pinnae clustered at stipe apex. D. subimpressa is marked by pale-green lamina and the largest basiscopic
basal pinnule in the lowest pair of pinnae. Similarly, the characteristic features of D. wallichiana are presence of huge frond size,
glossier and dark-green lamina and dense browner scales in stipe and rachis. In present communication taxonomic description,
synonyms, ecology and photographs are provided for each of these newly recorded species.