Polish Botanical Journal 58(2): 525–537, 2013
DOI: 10.2478/pbj-2013-0038
Assessment of liverwort And hornwort florA
of nilgiri hills, western ghAts (indiA)
Praveen Kumar verma1, afroz alam & K. K. rawat
Abstract. Bryophytes are an important part of the lora of the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. This paper
gives an updated catalogue of the Hepaticae of the Nilgiri Hills. The list includes all available records, based on the authors’
collections and those in LWU and other renowned herbaria. The catalogue of liverworts indicates their substrate and occurrence, and includes several records new for the Nilgiri bryolora as well as for Western Ghats. The list of Hepaticae contains
29 families, 55 genera and 164 taxa. The list of Anthocerotae comprises 2 families, 3 genera and 5 taxa belonging to almost
all life form types.
Key words: Western Ghats, biodiversity hotspot, Tamil Nadu, Bryophyta, Hepaticae, Anthocerotae
Praveen Kumar Verma, Rain Forest Research Institute, Deovan, Sotai Ali, Post Box # 136, Jorhat – 785 001 (Assam), India;
e-mail: pkverma_bryo@yahoo.co.in
Afroz Alam, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Tonk – 304 022 (Rajasthan), India; e-mail:
afrozalamsafvi@gmail.com
K. K. Rawat, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow – 226 001, India; e-mail: drkkrawat@
rediffmail.com
IntroductIon
The Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu are a part of the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), recognized
under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program
of UNESCO. These hills (junction of Eastern
Ghats and Western Ghats) are formed by northsouth hill ranges rising from the coastal plains of
peninsular India, with a few isolated peaks such
as Dodabetta Peak (2667 m) and Mukuruti Peak
(2554 m). The Nilgiris lie between 10°01′ to 11°47′
latitude north and 76°12′ to 77°15′ longitude east,
covering ca 2549 km2. The area receives the southeast and northwest monsoons, making for very rich
bryolora, especially that of epiphytes. Tropical
montane evergreen forest, known as shola forest,
occurs at higher elevations of the Western Ghats
and its associated hill range in southern India. It
is discontinuous and patchy, usually restricted to
sheltered valleys, hollows and depressions, and
surrounded by grasslands. Some of the main forest
types in the area are wet evergreen forest, sub1
Corresponding author
tropical hill forest, montane wet temperate forests,
mixed deciduous, montane evergreen (shola grassland) (see also Champion & Seth 1968; Hockings
1989; Mohandass & Davidar 2009).
For south India there are several provincial
liverwort loras, including monumental works on
liverworts by Montagne (1842) and Gottsche et al.
(1845–1847). Many species are given in revisions of
Indian Cheilolejeunea (Asthana et al. 1995), Indian
Metzgeriaceae (Srivastava & Udar 1975a), Indian
Brachioelejeunea (Awasthi & Srivastava 1988), Indian Fossombroniaceae (Srivastava & Udar 1975b),
Indian Anueraceae (Srivastava & Udar 1976);
Indian hornworts (Asthana & Srivastava 1991), Indian Cololejunea (Asthana & Srivastava 2003),
Indian Lepidoziineae (Sharma & Srivastava 1993),
Indian Geocalycaceae (Srivastava & Srivastava
2002), Indian Lopholejeunea (Awasthi et al. 2000)
and a global revision of Cyathodium (Srivastava
& Dixit 1996). There are recent papers on different aspects of the bryophytes of southern India
(Srivastava et al. 1989; Srivastava & Sharma 2000;
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 58(2). 2013
526
Srivastava et al. 2002; Srivastava & Verma 2004a,
b; Nair et al. 2005; Srivastava et al. 2006a, b;
Alam et al. 2007, 2011; Nair & Madhusoodanan
2007; Verma & Srivastava 2007, 2008a, b, 2010,
2011a, b, c, d; Madhusoodanan et al. 2007; Pócs
et al. 2007; Nair et al. 2008, 2009a, b, 2012a, b;
Daniels 2010; Verma 2010; Alam & Srivastava
2011; Verma et al. 2011; Alam 2012).
The Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu host a valuable
gene pool and signiicant bryodiversity. Preliminary reports on the liverworts of the area appeared
in the middle of the 19th century, based largely
on collections made by Europeans. Montagne’s
(1842) pioneer work on bryophytes of the Nilgiri Hills mentioned some hepatics, followed by
Gottsche et al. (1845–1847) and later by Mitten
(1861) who provided the irst documentation of
the liverworts of the Nilgiri Hills and described
20 species. Most of his names have been replaced
due to changes in their systematic position. Chopra
(1938) also listed several liverworts from the area.
To extend our knowledge of the bryophytes of the
Nilgiri Hills, we made an exhaustive survey of the
entire area, collected and identiied representative
specimens, and made a detailed analysis of their
diversity in the area on the basis of fresh collections and a critical survey of earlier reports and
collections available in the Lucknow University
Hepatic Herbarium (LWU) or overseas herbaria
including NY, G, FH, NICH, STR and JE. The
survey produced some noteworthy developments
in the systematics of the bryophytes of remote
localities in the Nilgiri Hills.
materIal and
methods
We collected and studied nearly 7000 herbarium specimens (mainly Hepaticae and Anthocerotae). They are
preserved in the Bryophyte Herbarium, University of
Lucknow (LWU). As different species grow in different
seasons, generally we collected samples in summer and
winter every year from 2000 to 2008 in the Nilgiri Hills,
also making ecological observation in the ield. At the
same time we studied herbarium accessions collected
by earlier workers. We identiied and authenticated several taxa from type/authentic specimens obtained on
loan from different International herbaria (FH, G, JE,
NICH, NY, STR) and exsiccatae (Hepaticae Selectae et
Criticae edited by Fr. Verdoorn; Hepaticae Japonicae
edited by S. Hattori). The treatment of taxa mainly follows Schuster (1984), Inoue (1984), Gradstein et al.
(2002), So (2003), Engel and Merrill (2004), Zhu and
Gradstein (2005) and Fuselier et al. (2011).
results
and dIscussIon
This work presents 169 taxa belonging to 58
genera and 31 families of Hepaticae and Anthocerotae. Seventy-ive of the 169 taxa are reported
here as obligate epiphytes, mostly members of
the Plagiochilaceae, Porellaceae, Frullaniaceae,
Lejeuneaceae, Radulaceae and Metzgeriaceae. The
liverwort lora of the Nilgiri Hills consists of two
phylogenetically related classes: Jungermanniidae
and Marchantiidae. The Jungermanniidae include
43 genera and 151 species under 9 suborders and
23 families, of both thallose and leafy organization, belonging to Metzgeriales (with 5 genera
and 13 species) and Jungermanniales (a highly
diversiied group with 38 genera and 143 species).
The class Marchantiidae includes 12 genera and
28 species under 2 suborders and 8 families in
the area, while class Anthocerotophyta includes
3 genera and 5 species under 2 families (Tables 1
& 2, Figs 1–18).
During this study we discovered 8 liverwort
taxa new for the Nilgiri Hills and published them
elsewhere: Cololejeunea nilgiriensis S. C. Srivast.
& G. Asthana (from Avalanche; Asthana & Srivastava 2003), Taxilejeunea nilgiriensis P. K. Verma
& S. C. Srivast. [from Kotagiri (Kengarai); Verma
& Srivastava 2008a, b], Lejeunea srivastavae P. K.
Verma & K. K. Rawat (from Ootacamund; Verma
& Rawat 2013), Microlejeunea udarii P. K. Verma
& S. C. Srivast. (from Pykara; Verma & Srivastava
2011a, b, c, d), Telaranea indica (S. C. Srivast.
& P. K. Verma) A. E. D. Daniel & P. Daniel
(from Governorsholai, as Arachniopsis indica
S. C. Srivast. & P. K. Verma; Srivastava & Verma
2004b), Gongylanthus indicus S. C. Srivast.
& P. K. Verma (from Naduvattam and Yellamalai;
Srivastava & Verma 2004c), Metzgeria coorgense
S. C. Srivast. & Sm. Srivast. [from Ootacamund
and Mercara (Karnataka); Srivastava & Srivastava 2002], and Solenostoma nilgiriensis (A. Alam,
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
P. K. VERMA eT AL.: LIVERWORT AND HORNWORT FLORA OF NILGIRI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
527
table 1. Genera and families of Hepaticae and Anthocerotae in the Nilgiri Hills.
Phylum / Class
Families
Marchantiophyta / Hepaticae
Anthocerotophyta /Anthocerotae
Total
Ad. Kumar & S. C. Srivast.) Vaňa & D. G. Long
[from Ootacamund (Theetkul), as Jungermannia
nilgiriensis A. Alam, Ad. Kumar & S. C. Srivast.;
Alam et al. 2007].
ecologIcal observatIons
In terms of habitat preference, the liverworts and
hornworts of Nilgiri can be grouped as terrestrial or epiphytic. Apart from soil-covered rocky
slopes and dense broadleaved forests, the Nilgiri
Hills also have a number of waterfalls, providing
favorable climate and topography for a variety
of terrestrial bryophytes, the predominant form.
Springs, ponds, streams, pools, falls, seeps and
dripping water create extremely wet conditions, as
found at Laws Falls, Pykara Waterfalls, St. Catherine Waterfall and Kalahatti Waterfall, which
support the growth of taxa such as Dumortiera
hirsuta, Pallavicinia lyellii, Riccia luitans, Riccardia levieri, Phaeoceros spp. and Anthoceros
spp. The steep slopes and rocks of the entire region
favor saxicolous vegetation such as Asterella wallichiana, A. khasiana, exormotheca ceylonensis,
Targionia spp., Plagiochasma spp. and Reboulia
hemisphaerica. Some leafy liverworts including
Jungermannia lanceolata, J. tetragona, J. truncata, Notoscyphus lutescens., Cephaloziella sp.,
Cephalozia sp, Lophocolea spp., Heteroscyphus
argutus, H. perfoliatus, Lethocolea javanica, Plagiochila acuta, P. indica and Porella acutifolia are
found in grassland or on soil-covered rocks. Some
terricolous taxa grow as small turfs (Jungermannia
sp., Hebertus spp., Gottschelia schizopleura) and
mats (Lunularia cruciata, Marchantia sp., Pallavicinia lyellii).
The epiphytic bryophytes of Nilgiri Hills are
signiicant in terms of number but also phytosociology. They are found mostly where the conditions
29
2
31
Genera
Species
55
3
58
164
5
169
are humid. The entire region of Dodabetta, Pykara
and Mukuruthy National Park receives ca 1200
mm precipitation annually. The epiphytic liverworts of the area form corticolous and epiphyllous
communities. The bark characteristics of the phorophyte – bark pH (always slightly acidic), bark
texture (smooth, rough), exposure to the physical
environment, tree age – play an important role
for corticolous communities. As a habitat for epiphytic liverworts, a tree can be broadly divided
into three regions: the base (up to 50 cm above
soil level), characterized by the growth of species
of Lophocolea, Heteroschyphus, Plicanthus, Lejeunea discreta; the trunk region with large primary
limbs, which host liverworts such as Ptychanthus,
Radula, Lopholejeunea, Porella, Plagiochila and
Frullania; and twigs and small secondary branches
with leaves, providing substrate for liverworts such
as Metzgeria spp., Lejeunea spp., Frullania tamarisci, Plagiochila spp. and Cheilolejeunea spp. The
epiphyllous forms are most typical and require
more relative humidity. Here they are restricted to
the leaves of young trees. Different life forms of
epiphytic liverworts were recorded in the Nilgiri
Hills: short turfs (Lejeunea spp), pendants (Frullania tamarisci, Ptychanthus striatus), wefts (Bazzania tridens), mats (Radula spp., Leucolejeunea
sp.), fans (Porella perrottetiana) and dendroid
forms (e.g., Plagiochila fruticosa). The liverwort
diversity of the Nilgiri Hills is also affected by the
altitudinal gradient, as some characteristics of the
taxa may be governed by environmental factors.
In the lower Nilgiri foothills the representation of
terrestrial liverworts is at maximum; the absence
of epiphytic liverworts in lower areas may be attributed to the drier conditions there: lower humidity, moisture and dew. With increasing altitude
the temperature drops and relative humidity rises,
enhancing the growth of epiphytic liverworts.
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 58(2). 2013
528
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
figs 1–9. 1 – Fossambronia wondraczekii (Corda) Dumort., 2 – Plagichasma rupestre (G. Forst.) Steph., 3 – Anthoceros subtilis
Steph., 4 – Pheoceros laevis (L.) Prosk. subsp. laevis, 5 – Asterella khasiana (Griff.) Grolle, 6 – Asterella wallichiana (Lehm.)
Grolle, 7 – Lophocolea bidentata (L.) Dumort., 8 – Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Gray, 9 – Cyathodium cavernarum Kunze. Scale
bars: 1 = 1 cm, 2 = 4 cm, 3, 5, 6 & 8 = 3 cm, 4 & 9 = 2 cm.
Human activities and population pressures coupled with the developing tourism industry in the
area have changed the natural vegetation, posing
a serious threat to the survival of a number of the
region’s loristic elements. The inlux of tourists
indirectly affects the environment. Ooty, a major
tourist destination, attracts great numbers of tourists
the year round. Any environmental impact in major
urban areas at higher elevations such as Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri can affect sites at lower locations
(Daniels 1992). Many hotels and other tourism facilities have been constructed. Continuous trafic
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
P. K. VERMA eT AL.: LIVERWORT AND HORNWORT FLORA OF NILGIRI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
529
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
figs 10–18. 10 – Targionia hypophylla L., 11 – Marchantia paleacea Bertol., 12 – Dumortiera hirsuta (Sw.) Nees, 13 – Cephaloziella kiaerii (Austin) S. W. Arnell, 14 – Bazzania tridens (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Trev., 15 – Frullania tamarisci
subsp. obscura (Verd.) S. Hatt., 16 – Plagiochila indica Mitt. ex Steph., 17 – Ptychanthus striatus (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Nees,
18 – Solenostoma strictum (Schiffner) Vaňa, Hentschel & J. Heinrichs, Scale bars: 11 = 4 cm, 12 = 3 cm, 13 = 1 cm, 14, 16
& 18 = 2 cm, 15 & 17 = 5 cm.
has produced heavy automobile pollution in the
area. Grazing is also taking its toll in areas like
Masinagudi, which is a livestock hub with an almost 1:1 ratio of cattle to humans (Daniels 1996).
Free grazing in such areas poses a constant threat
to surface lora. The slopes of the Nilgiri forests
are being cleared for agriculture, destroying forest
patches and consequently the epiphytic lora, and
also increasing the threat of landslides, which are
more common now than earlier.
Observations during ield survey work in the
area in recent years have revealed the absence of
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 58(2). 2013
530
table 2. Enumeration of liverwort and hornwort taxa of Nilgiri Hill, (Tamil Nadu), Western Ghats. C – corticolous, E – epiphyllous, T – terricolous.
Family & Genus
Species
Substrate
MARCHANTIOPYTA Stotler & Crand.-Stotl.
metzgerIales R. M. Schust. emend. Schljak.
Fossombroniaceae Hazsl.
Fossombronia Raddi
1. F. cristula Aust.
2. F. himalayensis Kash.
3. F. pusilla (L.) Dumort.
4. F. wondraczekii (Corda) Dumort.
T
T
T
T
Pallaviciniaceae Migula emend. R. M. Schust.
Pallavicinia S. F. Gray
5. P. lyellii (Hook.) S. F. Gray
T
Metzgeriaceae H. Klinggr.
Metzgeria Raddi
6. M. pubescens (Schrank) Raddi
7. M. furcata (L.) Dumort.
8. M. indica Udar & S. C. Srivast.
9. M. consanguinea Schiffn.
10. M. pandei S. C. Srivast. & Udar
11. M. coorgense S. C. Srivast. & Sm. Srivast.
C
C
C, T
C
C
C
Aneuraceae H. Klinggr.
Aneura Dumort.
Riccardia S. F. Gray
12. A. pellioides (Horik.) Inoue
13. R. levieri Schiffner
T
T
JungermannIales H. Klinggr
Herbertaceae Mull.Frib. ex Fulford & Hatcher
Herbertus S. F. Gray
14. H. nilgerriensis (Steph.) H. A. Mill.
15. H. pinnatus (Steph.) H. A. Mill.
T
T
16. P. hirtellus (F. Weber) R. M. Schust.
17.G. schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle
C
T
18. J. appressifolia Mitt.
19. J. lanceolata L.
20. J. pleidereri Amakawa & Vána
21. J. pyrilora Steph.
22. S. strictum (Schiffner) Váňa, Hentschel & J. Heinrichs
23. S. tetragonum (Lindenb.) R. M. Schust. ex Váňa & D. G. Long
24. S. truncatum (Nees) R. M.Schust. ex Váňa & D. G. Long
25. S. nilgiriensis (A. Alam, Ad. Kumar & S. C. Srivast.) Vaňa
& D. G. Long
26. N. darjeelingensis Udar & Ad. Kumar
27. N. pandei Udar & Ad. Kumar
28. N. paroicus Schiffner
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
29. D. nanum Herzog
T
Lophoziaceae Cavers
Plicanthus R. M. Schust.
Gottschelia Grolle
Jungermanniaceae Rchb.
Jungermannia L.
Solenostoma Mitt.
Notoscyphus Mitt.
T
T
T
T
Scapaniaceae Migula
Diplophyllum Dumort.
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
531
P. K. VERMA eT AL.: LIVERWORT AND HORNWORT FLORA OF NILGIRI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
table 2. Continued.
Family & Genus
Species
Substrate
Arnelliaceae Nakai
Gongylanthus Nees
30. G. indicus S. C. Srivast. & P. K. Verma
T
Geocalycaceae Klinggr.
Lophocolea (Dumort.) Dumort.
Heteroscyphus Schiffn.
31. L. bidentata (L.) Dumort.
32. L. heterophylla (Schrad.) Dumort.
33.L. minor Nees
34. L. muricata (Lehm.) Nees
35. H. argutus (Nees) Schiffner
36. H. perfoliatus (Mont.) Schiffner
37. H. orbiculatus A. Srivast. & S. C. Srivast.
T, C
T, C
T
T, C
T, C
T, C
T, C
38. P. acuta Steph.
39. P. beddomei Steph.
40. P. celebica Schiffn.
41. P. duthiana Steph.
42. P. elegans Mitt.
43. P. lexuosa Mitt.
44. P. fruticosa Mitt.
45. P. ghatiensis Steph.
46. P. gracilis Lindenb. & Gottsche
47. P. indica Mitt. ex Steph.
48. P. junghuhniana Sande Lac
49. P. peradenyensis Schiffn.
50. P. sciophila Nees
51. P. semidecurrens (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Lehm. & Lindenb.
52. P. sisparensis Steph.
53. P. subtropica Steph.
T, C
C
T, C
T, C
C
C
C
C
C
T, C
T, C
C
C
C
C
C
Plagiochilaceae Müll. Frib. & Herzog
Plagiochila (Dumort.) Dumort.
Acrobolbaceae Hodgs.
Lethocolea Mitt.
54. L. javanica (Schiffn.) Grolle
T
55. C. schusteri Udar & Ad. Kumar
T
Chonecoleaceae R. M. Schust. ex Grolle
Chonecolea Mitt.
Lepidoziaceae Limpr.
Bazzania S.F. Gray
Telaranea Spruce ex Schiffn.
56. B. oshimensis (Steph.) Horik.
57. B. tridens (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Trev.
58. T. indica (S. C. Srivast. & P. K. Verma) A. E. D. Daniel
& P. Daniel
T, C
T, C
T
59. C. arguta Nees &Mont. ex Nees
60. C. azurea Stotler & Crotz.
61. C. lunata Mitt.
T
T, C
T
Calypogieaceae (K. Müll.) Arnell
Calypogeia Raddi
Cephaloziaceae Migula
Cephalozia (Dumort.) Dumort.
62. C. siamensis N. Kitag.
63. C. willisana Steph.
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
T
T
POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 58(2). 2013
532
table 2. Continued.
Family & Genus
Species
Substrate
Cephalloziallaceae Douin
Cephaloziella (Spruce) Schiffn.
64. C. kiaerii (Austin) S. W. Arnell
T
65. J. javanica var. cardiocarpa Schiffn.
T
Jackiellaceae R. M. Schust.
Jackiella Schiffn.
Porellaceae Cavers
Porella L.
66. P. acutifolia (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Trevis.
67. P. caespitans var. setigera (Steph.) S. Hatt.
68. P. campylophylla (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Trevis.
69. P. campylophylla var. ligulifera Tayl.
70. P. chinensis (Steph.) S. Hatt.
71. P. madagascariensis (Nees & Mont.) Trevis.
72. P. plumosa (Mitt.) Inoue
73. P. perrottetiana (Mont.) Trevis.
T, C
C
T, C
C
C
C
C
T, C
74. F. hampeana var. acutiloba (Mitt.) S. Hatt.
75. F. arecae (Spreng.) Gottsche
76. F. alstonii var. pleidereri S. Hatt.
77. F. campanulata Sande Lac.
78. F. ericoides (Nees ex Mart.) Mont.
79. F. grandistipula Steph.
80. F. inlexa Mitt.
81. F. muscicola Steph.
82. F. neurota Taylor
83. F. riojaneirensis (Raddi) Spruce
84. F. tamarisci subsp. obscura (Verd.) S. Hatt.
C
C
C
C
T, C
C
C
C
T, C
C
T, C
85. M. humilis (Gottsche) Schiffner
86. L. indica Udar & U. S. Awasthi
87. L. subfusca (Nees) Schiffner
88. S. indica (Steph.) Udar & U.S. Awasthi
89. S. polycarpa (Nees) Gradst.
90. A. apiculifolia Steph.
91. A. planiuscula (Mitt.) Steph.
92. A. minutiloba Udar & U. S. Awasthi
93. S. semirepandus (Nees) Verd.
94. A. yoshinaganus (S. Hatt.) Kruijt
95. F. tristis (Steph.) Slageren
96. P. striatus (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Nees
97. D. angustifolia Grolle
98. D. ternatensis (Gottsche) Steph.
99. D. ternatensis var. lancispina Herz.
100. D. yunnanensis (P. C. Chen) Grolle & R. L. Zhu
101. L. foliicola (Horik.) R. M. Schust.
102. Metalejeunea cucullata (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Grolle
C
C
T, C
C
C
C
C
C
T, C
C
C
T, C
C
C
C
C, E
C
E
Frullaniaceae Lorch
Frullania Raddi
Lejeuneaceae Cavers
Mastigolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn
Lopholejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Schiffneriolejeunea Verd.
Archilejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Spruceanthus Verd.
Acanthocoleus R. M. Schust.
Frullanoides Raddi
Ptychanthus Nees
Drepanolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Leptolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Metalejeunea Grolle
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
533
P. K. VERMA eT AL.: LIVERWORT AND HORNWORT FLORA OF NILGIRI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
table 2. Continued.
Family & Genus
Species
Microlejeunea (Spruce) Jack. & Seph.
103. M. punctiformis (Taylor) Spruce
104. M. udarii P. K. Verma & S. C. Srivast.
105. M. ulicina (Taylor) A. Evans
106. L. brittoniae A. Evans
107. L. caespitosa Lindenb.
108. L. cocoes Mitt.
109. L. discreta Lindenb.
110. L. lava (Sw.) Nees
111. L. srivastavae P. K.Verma & K. K. Rawat
112. L. neelgherriana Gottsche
113. L. perrottetii Steph.
114. L. stevensiana (Steph.) Mizut.
115. L. tuberculosa Steph.
116. L. wightii Lindenb.
117. L. aloba Sande Lac.
118. L. subolivacea Mizut.
119. C. trapezia (Nees) R. M. Schust.
120. C. laeviscula (Mitt.) Steph.
121. C. serpentina (Mitt.) Mizut.
122. C. udarii G. Asthana, S. C. Srivast. & A. K. Asthana
123. C. xanthocarpa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) I. Malombe.
124. T. eckloniana (Agarwal) P. K. Verma & S. C. Srivast.
125. T. nilgiriensis Verma & S. C. Srivast.
126. T. tenerrima Steph.
127. C. appressa (A. Evans) Benedix
128. C. cardiocarpa (Mont.) Steph.
129. C. latilobula (Herz.) Tixier
130. C. minutissima (Smith) Schiffn.
131. C. pseudoloccosa (Horik.) Benedix
133. C. nilgiriensis G. Asthana & S. C. Srivast.
134. C. udarii G. Asthana, S. C. Srivast. & A. K. Asthana
Lejeunea Libert.
Cheilolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Taxilejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Cololejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn.
Substrate
C, E
C
C
C
C
C
T, C
T, C
C
C
C
C
C
T, C
C
C
T, C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C, E
C, E
C, E
C, E
C, E
C
C, E
Radulaceae (Dumort.) K.Mull.
Radula Dumort.
135. R. madagascariensis Gottsche
136. R. nilgiriensis Udar & Dh. Kumar
137. R. onraedtii K. Yamada
138. R. perrottetii Gottsche ex Steph.
139. R tabularis Steph.
C
C
C
C
C
marchantIales Limpr.
Cleveaceae Cavers
Athalamia Falc.
140. A. pusilla (Steph.) Kash.
T
141. R. hemisphaerica (L.) Raddi
142. M. foreaui Udar &V. Chandra
T
T
Aytoniaceae Cavers
Reboulia Raddi
Mannia Corda
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 58(2). 2013
534
table 2. Continued.
Family & Genus
Species
Plagiochasma Lehm. & Lindenb.
143. P. cordatum Lehm. & Lindenb.
144. P. pterospermum C. Massal.
145. P. rupestre (G. Forst.) Steph.
146. A. khasiana (Griff.) Grolle
147. A. wallichiana (Lehm.) Grolle
T
T
T
T
T
148. L. cruciata (L.) Dumort. ex Lindb.
T
149. E. ceylonensis Meijer
T
150. M. kashyapii Udar & Shaheen
151. M. paleacea Bertol.
152. M. palmata Reinw., Blume & Nees
T
T
T
153. D. hirsuta (Sw.) Nees
T
154. T. lorbeeriana K. Müll.
155. T. hypophylla L.
T
T
156. C. cavernarum Kunze
T
157. R. crozalsii Levier
158. R. crystallina L.
159. R. stricta (Gottsche et al.) Perold
160. R. gangetica Ahmad
161. R. grollei Udar
162. R. melanospora Kash.
163. R. plana Tayl.
164. R. warnstroii Limpr.
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
Asterella P. Beauv.
Substrate
Lunulariaceae H. Klinggr.
Lunularia Adans.
Exormothecaceae Müll. Frib. ex Grolle
Exormotheca Mitt.
Marchantiaceae (Bisch.) Endl.
Marchantia March.
Dumortieraceae D. G. Long
Dumortiera Nees
Targioniaceae Endl.
Targionia L.
Cyathodiaceae Stotler & Crand.-Stotl
Cyathodium Kunze
Ricciaceae Rchb.
Riccia L.
ANTHOCEROTOPHYTA Stotl. & Crand.-Stotl.
Anthocerotaceae Dumort. Corr. Trevis emend. Hässel
Anthoceros L.
165. A. angustus Steph.
166. A. subtilis Steph.
T
T
169. N. indica Kash.
167. P. laevis (L.) Prosk. subsp. laevis
168. P. laevis subsp. carolinianus (Michx.) Prosk.
T
T
T
Notothyladaceae (Milde) Müll.
Notothylas Sull. ex A. Gray
Pheoceros Prosk.
some taxa earlier reported in recent collections: e.g.,
Acrolejeunea pycnoclada (Taylor) Schiffn., Archilejeunea apiculifolia Steph., Archilejeunea minutiloba Udar & U. S. Awasthi, Asterella leptophylla
(Mont.) Grolle, Athalamia pusilla (Steph.) Kashyap,
Chonocolea schusterii Udar & Ad. Kumar, Mannia
forauei Udar & V. Chandra, Radula javanica Gott.,
Riccia melanospora Kash., Riccia warnstorfii
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
P. K. VERMA eT AL.: LIVERWORT AND HORNWORT FLORA OF NILGIRI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
Limpr., Schistochila aligera (Nees & Blume) Jack
& Steph., S. glaucescens (Hook.) A. Evans and S.
philippinensis (Mont.) Jack & Steph., which have
not been re-collected since their original discovery
in the area. A number of other taxa [e.g., Cheilolejeunea udarii, Cololejeunea nilgiriensis, exermotheca
ceylonensis Meijer, Plagiochila gracilis Lindenb.
Plagiochila sisparensis Steph., Reboulia hemisphaerica (L.) Raddi] are near extinction in the area
due to their very low frequency of occurrence and
habitat change.
Some endemic taxa, for example Metzgeria
nilgiriensis, Plagiochila sisparensis, Radula nilgiriensis, Taxilejeunea nilgiriensis, Microlejeunea
udarii, Gongylanthus indicus, Telaranea indica,
Chonocolea schusterii, Lejeunea perrottetii,
Herbertus nilgiriensis, Cheilolejeunea udarii
and Archilejeunea minutiloba, face the maximum
risk of extinction because they have so few localities. Some taxa which are known from other
countries but whose distribution within India is
restricted to the Nilgiri Hills (e.g., Lethocolea
javanica, Plagiochila beddomei, Gottschelia
schizopleura, Plagiochila junghuhniana) are also
threatened.
Bryophytes, though the second-largest group of
terrestrial plants, have received much less attention
than vascular plants in conservation and protection planning. Some liverwort species urgently
require protection and conservation to save them
from extinction. Habitat destruction eliminates
bryophytes earlier than many other phanerogams
because they are more sensitive to environmental
change. The study area, Nilgiri, is illed with lush
green vegetation. Tropical evergreen trees occur
at high frequency and density, providing an excellent environment for growth of bryophytes; they
may serve in in situ conservation of these plants.
Changes in the habit, growth rate and growth pattern of a particular species can be monitored over
a period of several years and the data thus collected can be used to predict the growth potential
of bryophytes during climatic change in the area.
Some rare bryophyte species may be grown in
a natural conservatory such as the Government
Botanical Garden at Ootacamund and Sims Park
at Coonoor.
535
acKnowledgements. We are grateful to Professor
S. C. Srivastava, former Head of the Botany Department, Lucknow University, Lucknow and former
Collaborator of the All India Coordinated Project on
Taxonomy (AICOPTAX) for facilities and encouragement, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (New
Delhi) for inancial assistance under AICOPTAX, and
the Department of Forest and Environment (Tamil Nadu)
for assistance and logistic support for the period of ield
explorations. Thanks are also due to Professor Tamás
Pócs for critically reading the manuscript and for valuable suggestions.
references
alam A. 2012. Liverworts lora of Parson’s Valley, Nilgiri
Hills (Western Ghats), South India. Archive for Bryology
119: 1–20.
alam a. & srIvastava S. C. 2011. Liverwort diversity in
Palni Hills (Tamil Nadu), India, a checklist. Nelumbo 51:
99–122.
alam a., Kumar a. & srIvastava S. C. 2007. Jungermannia nilgiriensis, a new species from Nilgiri hills (Western
Ghats) India. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 49: 219–224.
alam a., verma P. K., asthana g. & Yadav S. 2011. Moss
lora of Palni Hills (Tamil Nadu), India – A checklist.
Archive for Bryology 112: 1–8.
asthana a. K. & srIvastava S. C. 1991. Indian hornworts.
A taxonomic study. Bryophyt. Biblioth. 42: 1–158.
asthana g. & srIvastava S. C. 2003. Indian Cololejeunea.
A taxonomic study. Bryophyt. Biblioth. 60: 1–155.
asthana g., srIvastava s. c. & asthana A. K. 1995. The
genus Cheilolejeunea in India. Lindbergia 20: 125–145.
awasthI u. s & srIvastava S. C. 1988. Status of Brachiolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. in India. Proc. Indian Acad.
Sci. Pl. Sci. 98(1): 1–12.
awasthI U. S., srIvastava S. C. & sharma D. 2000.
Lopholejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. in India. Geophytology
29(1 & 2): 35–60.
chamPIon h. g. & seth P. K. 1968. A revised survey of the
forest types of India. Government of India Press, Nasik,
Delhi.
choPra R. S 1938. Notes on Indian Hepaticae. I. South India.
Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., B 7: 239–251.
danIels A. E. D. 2010. Checklist of the bryophytes of Tamil
Nadu, India. Archive for Bryology 65: 1–117.
danIels R. J. R. 1992. The Nilgiri biosphere reserve and
its role in conserving India’s biodiversity. Curr. Sci. 64:
706–708.
danIels R. J. R. 1996. The Nilgiri biosphere reserve: A review
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
536
of conservation status with recommendations for a holistic
approach to management India. Working papers, no. 16.
South-South cooperation Programme on environmentally
sound Socio-economic development in the Humid tropics.
UNESCO, France.
engel J. J. & merrIll G. L. S. 2004. Austral Hepaticae. 35.
A taxonomic and phylogenetic study of Telaranea (Lepidoziaceae), with a monograph of the genus in temperate
Australasia and commentary on extra-Australasian taxa.
Fieldiana, Bot. 44: 1–265.
fuselIer l. c., shaw b., engel J. J., von Konrat m.,
costa d. P., devos n. & shaw J. 2011. The status and
phylogeography of liverwort genus Apometzgeria Kuwah.
(Metzgeriaceae). Bryologist 114: 92–101.
gottsche c. m., lIndenberg v. & nees von esenbecK
C. G. 1844–1847. Synopsis Hepaticarum (1844: i–xxvi,
1–444; 1845: 145–304; 1845: 305–464; 1846: 465–624;
1847: 625–834). Sumptibus Meissnerianis, Hamburg.
gradsteIn s. r., he X.-l., PIIPPo s. & mIzutanI M. 2002.
Bryophyte lora of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea.
LXVIII. Lejeuneaceae subfamily Ptychanthoideae (Hepaticae). Acta Bot. Fenn. 174: 1–88.
hocKIngs P. 1989. Blue Mountains. In: P. hocKIngs (ed.),
The ethnography and Biogeography of a South Indian
Region. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
POLISH BOTANICAL JOURNAL 58(2). 2013
naIr m. c., raJesh K. P. & madhusoodanan P. V. 2009a.
Contribution to the lora of India: the Aralam Wildlife
Sanctuary in the Western Ghats. Archive for Bryology 42:
1–12.
naIr m. c., raJesh K. P. & madhusoodanan P. V. 2009b.
Contribution to the bryophyte lora of India: Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in Western Ghats. Taiwania 54(1):
57–68.
naIr m. c., raJesh K. P. & PraKashKumar R. 2012b. On the
identity of Riccia luitans (Ricciaceae. Marchantiophyta) in
India. Acta Biologica Plantarum Agriensis 2: 115–124.
naIr m. c., Pócs t., raJesh K. P. & PraKashKumar R.
2012a. Lejeuneaceae (Marchantiophyta) of the Western
Ghats, India. Acta Biologica Plantarum Agriensis 2:
125–147.
Pócs t., naIr m. c., raJesh K. P. & madhusoodanan P. V.
2007. Liverwort (Marchantiopsida) records from the Western Ghats (Kerala State, Peninsular India). Acta Bot. Hung.
49(1–2): 121–129.
schuster R. M. 1984. Evolution, phylogeny and classiication
of the Hepaticae. In: R. M. schuster (ed.), New Manual of
Bryology. 2: 760–1070. The Hattori Botanical Laboratory
Nichinan, Miyazaki, Japan.
sharma d. & srIvastava S. C. 1993. Indian Lepidoziineae.
A taxonomic revision. Bryophyt. Biblioth. 47: 1–354.
Inoue H. 1984. The genus Plagiochila (Dum.) Dum. in Southeast Asia. Academia Scientiic Book Inc., Tokyo.
so M. L. 2003. The genus Metzgeria (Hepaticae) in Asia.
J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 94: 159–177.
madhusoodanan P. v., naIr m. c. & easa P. S. 2007. Diversity of bryophytes in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala,
South India. In: V. nath & A. K. asthana (eds), Current
Trends in Bryology, pp. 255–267. Bishen Singh Mahendra
Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India.
srIvastava s. c. & dIXId R. 1996. The genus Cyathodium
Kunze. J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 80: 149–215.
mItten W. 1861. Hepaticae Indiae Orientalis: an enumeration
of the Hepaticae of the East-Indies. J. Proc. Linn. Soc.,
Bot. 5: 385–392.
mohandass d. & davIdar P. 2009. Floristic structure and
diversity of a tropical montane evergreen forest (shola) of
the Nilgiri Mountains, southern India. Trop. ecol. 50(2):
219–229.
srIvastava s. c. & sharma D. 2000. A preliminary study on
the liverwort and hornwort lora of Silent Valley (Kerala).
In: D. K. chauhan (ed.), Recent trends in botanical researches. Prof. D. D. Nautiyal Commemoration Volume,
pp. 55–76. University of Allahabad, Allahabad.
srIvastava a. & srIvastava S. C. 2002. Indian Geocalycaceae (Hepaticae) – A taxonomic study. Bishen Singh
Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehera Dun.
srIvastava s. c. & srIvastava S. 2004. Two new Metzgerias
from Peninsular India. Phytotaxonomy 4: 79–86.
montagne C. 1842. Cryptogamae nilgherienses seu plantarum
cellularium in montibous penensulal indicae Neel-gherries
dictis in a d Perrottet collectarum enumeration. Ann. Sci.
Nat., Bot. 17: 12–23.
srIvastava s. c. & udar R. 1975a Taxonomy of the Indian
Metzgeriaceae – a monographic study. New Botanist 2:
1–57.
naIr m. c. & madhusoodanan P. V. 2007. A preliminary
survey of the bryophyte lora of Vellarimala in Western
Ghats of Kerala. Indian J. Forest. 29(2): 191–196.
srIvastava s. c. & udar R. 1975b. The genus Fossombronia
Raddi in India, with a note on the Indian taxa of the family
Fossombroniaceae. Nova Hedwgia 26: 799–845.
naIr m. c., raJesh K. P. & madhusoodanan P. V. 2005.
Bryophytes of Wayanad in Western Ghats. Malabar Natural
History Society, Kozhikode, India.
naIr m. c., raJesh K. P. & madhusoodanan P. V. 2008.
Bryophytes of Kakkayam Forests in the Western Ghats and
its conservation measures. Geophytology 37: 59–63.
srIvastava s. c. & udar R. 1976. Indian Aneuraceae –
a monographic study. Biol. Mem. 1: 121–154.
srIvastava s. c & verma P. K. 2004a. Exploration of liverwort diversity on Cinchona plantation in Dodabetta, Nilgiri
Hills, India. Geophytology 32(1–2): 1–18.
srIvstava s. c & verma P. K. 2004b. Genus Arachniopsis
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
P. K. VERMA eT AL.: LIVERWORT AND HORNWORT FLORA OF NILGIRI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
537
Spruce – new to India with A. Indica sp. nov. as new to
science. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 27(7 & 8): 269–272.
(Tamil Nadu). Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences India, Section B, Biol. Sciences 78: 253–264.
srIvstava s. c & verma P. K. 2004c. Gongylanthus indicus
sp. nov. (Hepaticae) an interesting new addition from India
(Nilgiri hills). Indian J. Forest. 28: 200–205.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2008b. Plagiochila junghuhniana Sande Lac. new to Indian Mainland (Nilgiri
Hills, Western Ghats). J. Bombay. Nat. Hist. Soc. 105(2):
236–238.
srIvastava s. c., Kumar d. & srIvastava A. 1989. Morphotaxonomic details of Heteroscyphus perfoliatus (Mont.)
Schiffn. J. Bryol. 15(3): 559–564.
srIvastava S. C., rawat K. K. & verma P. K. 2006b. An
interesting Plagiochila from Kodaikanal (India). Natl.
Acad. Sci. Lett. 29(7 & 8): 267–270.
srIvstava s. c., verma P. K. & alam A. 2006a. Plagiochila
gracilis Lindenb.& Gott. and P. subtropica St. in Western
Ghats (Nilgiri Hills). Phytotaxonomy 6: 78–83.
srIvastava s. c., verma P. K. & rIzvI S. A. H. 2002. Plagiochila peradenyensis Schiffn. new to India. Geophytology 30: 75–79.
verma P. K. 2010. Genus Cololejeunea (Spruce) Schifin. in
Nilgiri Hills (Western Ghats). Nelumbo 51: 157–160.
verma P. K. & rawat K. K. 2013. Lejeunea srivastavae sp.
nov. (Hepaticae, Lejeuneaceae), from Nilgiri hills of Western Ghats (India). Taiwania 58(1): 7–11.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2007. Genus Taxilejeunea
in Western Ghats (India). Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., B 77:
206–214.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2008a. Diversity and distribution of epiphytic liverworts (Hepaticae) in Nilgiri hills
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2010. SEM study of Leucolejeunea xanthocarpa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) A. Evans.
Geophytology 38(1–2): 97–99.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2011a. Endemism in Liverworts of Western Ghats and their present status. Archive
for Bryology 99: 1–23.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2011b. Lejeunea tuberculosa Steph. (Hepaticae) from Nilgiri Hills, Western Ghats.
Indian J. Forest. 34(3): 477–78.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2011c. Species diversity of
genus Microlejeunea Steph. (Lejeuneaceae, Hepaticae) in
Nilgiri Hills, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. J. Bombay
Nat. Hist. Soc. 108(2): 120–125.
verma P. K. & srIvastava S. C. 2011d. SEM studies on Frullanoides tristis (St.) Van Slageren (Liverwort, Bryophyta).
Geophytology 41(1–2): 105–107.
verma P. K., alam a. & srIvastava S. C. 2011. Status of
mosses in Nilgiri Hills (Western Ghats), India. Archive for
Bryology 102: 1–16.
zhu r. l. & gradsteIn S. R. 2005. Monograph of Lopholejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. (Lejeuneaceae, Hepaticae) in Asia.
Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 74: 1–98.
Received 28 August 2012
Unauthenticated | 117.211.84.67
Download Date | 1/10/14 7:58 AM
Dr Afroz Alam