Aquatic Pteridophytes Diversity Of Hoshangabad Madhya Pradesh, India

Pteridophytes are the seedless vascular cryptogams which occupy a position between the lower non-seed bearing and higher seed bearing plants. They grow in terrestrial, epiphytic, lithophytic and aquatic habitat. The present study mainly focused on the diversity of aquatic pteridophytes of Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, India. The main River in this region is Narmada, which flows in the depression between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges; forming the northern boundary of district. Average rain fall in the region is 134 cms., and the average maximum and minimum temperatures are 32°C and 19°C respectively. Overall, the climate of the district is tropical except in the Pachmarhi where winter is cooler. There are 37 water bodies in the district major water bodies are Tawa dam, Dokarikheda dam, Narmada and Tawa River. The pteridophytic flora of Satpura region is very rich, as various gorges provide ideal habitat for the growth of such plants. The pteridophytes considered to be the primitive vascular plant group is scattered all over the world. More than 1200 species of fern and fern allies have been reported from India (Dixit 1984, Chandra, 2000), though new genuine findings are also made from time to time. This place is one of the richest in flora, in India, representing elements of both northern and southern Indian flora. Observations on seven aquatic pteridophytic species belonging to six genera and six families are presented in this paper. Their botanical names, family names, local names, habit, and distributions in big and small water bodies of Hoshangabad are provided.