PJB-2017-117
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN THE PTERIDOPHYTE FLORA OF PAKISTAN AND AZAD KASHMIR
ALIA GUL, JAN ALAM, ABDUL MAJID, HABIB AHMAD AND M. QAISER
Abstract
Current investigation aims to analyze diversity and nature of distribution of the pteridophyte taxa of Pakistan based on published literature and current field studies by the authors. Many field visits were conducted in Hazara Division and some locations of Gilgit-Baltistan province from 2012 to 2014. An updated checklist suggests that there are 202 species and intra-specific taxa distributed in 62 genera and 19 families. Dryopteridaceae was the largest family with 47 taxa (23.5%), followed by Pteridaceae (41 taxa; 20.5%) and Woodsiaceae (21 taxa; 11.5%). Dryopteris Adonson was the largest genus with 23 species (11.38%), followed by Asplenium L. and Polystichum Roth with 18 species (8.90 %) each. Generic index was 3.27. Sino Japanese elements were dominant with 154 taxa (78.35%), followed by Irano Turanian and Saharo Sindian elements with 6 (3.09%) species. Seventy three taxa (36.5%) were extremely rare and 36 rare (18%). Potential areas were Kashmir (110 spp.; 56.70%), Mansehra District (84 spp., 43.29%) and Abbottabad District (80 spp.; 41.23%). Neolepisorus fortunei (T.Moore) Li Wang is reported for Pakistan. The genus Neolepisorus Ching is also a new record for Pakistan. Further field studies are imperative in order to draw a true picture of the pteridophyte diversity of Pakistan especially focusing North Balochistan, Kurram Agency, Dir Upper, Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
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