Observations on the Pteridophytic Flora of Simla Hills (North Western Himalayas)

Ecological and distributional data about the Peteridophytic Flora of Simla Hills in the North Westan Himalayas is presented in this paper. Detailed observations on the habitat of various species have been made. In all, 121 species (9 Fern-Allies and 112 Ferns) were collected, out of which, 22 are new records for the area. Amongst the interesting and rare ones are, Cheilanthes chrysophylla Hook., Blechnum orientale Linn., Asplenium unilaterale Lam. Var. udum Atk., Phymatodes erythrocarpa (Mett, ex Kze.) Ching, Pyrrosia flocullosa (Don) Ching, Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link, Selaginella subdiaphana (Wall.) Spr. and S. sanguinolenta (L.) Spr. forma aitchisonii (Hieron.) Alston. Simla combines the flora of the the Eastern and North Western Himalayas and it may be treated as the western limit for Blechnum orientale Linn., Sphenomis chinensis Maxon, Dennstaedtia scabra (Wall.) Moore, and Asplenium unilaterale Lam. Latest nomenclature has been used.