Abstract
Pyrrosia sarthalensis, belonging to the family Polypodiaceae from the Bani Valley of Kathua district, Himalayan Jammu & Kashmir, India is described here as a new species. It shows restricted distributional range and so far, is only known from the Bani Valley, within the Himalayan centre of endemism. It is an epiphytic fern species having brownish sori, formed only on the upper half of the frond. Other diagnostic features include grooved rhizomes, rhizome scales, lamina size and structure, sori placement, size and structure, and spore characters. This new species is morphologically similar to P. flocculosa but differs in certain characters.
References
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<p>Chandra, S. (2000) <em>The Ferns of India-Enumeration, Synonyms and Distribution</em>. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun, India, 459 pp.</p>
<p>Ching, R.C. (1935) On the genus <em>Pyrrosia</em> Mirbel from the Mainland of Asia incl. Japan and Formosa. <em>Bulletin of the Chinese Botanical Society</em> 1: 36–72.</p>
<p>Ching, R.C. (1940) On the natural classification of the family Polypodiaceae. <em>Sunyatsenia</em> 5: 202–268.</p>
<p>Chowdhury, N.P. (1973) <em>The Pteridophytic Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain.</em> Navayug Traders, New Delhi, India, 558 pp.</p>
<p>Clarke, C.B. & Baker, J.G. (1888) Supplementary Note on the Ferns of Northern India. <em>Journal of the Linnean Society of London</em> 24: 408–418. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1888.tb01334.x</p>
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<p>Dixit, R.D. (1984) <em>A Census of the Indian Pteridophytes</em>, Flora of India, Series 4. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India, 177 pp.</p>
<p>Don, D. (1825) <em>Prodromus Florae Nepalensis</em>. J. Gale, London, 308 pp.</p>
<p>Farwell, O.A. (1931) <em>The American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 12</em>. The University of Notre Dame, USA, 245 pp. https://doi.org/10.2307/2420088</p>
<p>Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. (2008) <em>Taxonomic Revision of Three Hundred Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes with a Revised Census-List</em> (A new picture of fern-taxonomy and nomenclature in the Indian subcontinent). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India, 685 pp.</p>
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<p>Hovenkamp, P.H. (1984) Some new names and combinations in <em>Pyrrosia</em> Mirbel (Polypodiaceae). <em>Blumea</em> 30 (1): 207–208.</p>
<p>Hovenkamp, P.H. (1986) <em>A monograph of the fern genus</em> <em>Pyrrosia</em>. Leiden University Press, Leiden.</p>
<p>Khullar, S.P. (1988) The ferns of West Himalaya: An enumeration as in the illustrated fern flora of West Himalaya. <em>Himalayan Research & Development</em> 7: 59–67.</p>
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<p>Mehra, P.N. (1939) <em>Ferns of Mussoorie</em>. Panjab University (Lahore) Publications, 29 pp.</p>
<p>Mirbel, C.F.B. de (1802[1803]) <em>Histoire Naturelle des Végétaux, Classés par Familles</em>, t. 3. Crapelet, Paris, 588 pp.</p>
<p>Nayar, B.K. & Chandra, S. (1966) Morphological series within the genus <em>Pyrrosia</em>, and their phylogenetic interpretation. <em>Canadian Journal of Botany</em> 45 (5): 615–634. https://doi.org/10.1139/b67-068</p>
<p>Pande, P.C. (1990) A census of Kumaun Ferns (North-Western Himalaya). <em>Indian Fern Journal</em> 7: 140–195.</p>
<p>POWO (2021) <em>Plants of the World Online</em>. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ (accessed 11 October 2021)</p>
<p>Presl, C. (1836) <em>Tentamen Pteridographiae.</em> T. Haase fils., Prague, 523 pp.</p>
<p>Presl, J. & Presl, C. (1822) <em>Deliciae Pragenses</em>, Vol. 1. Calve, Prague, 244 pp.</p>
<p>Rakotondrainibe, F. & Hovenkamp, P.H. (2012) A new species of <em>Pyrrosia</em> (Polypodiaceae) from Madagascar. <em>Novon </em>22: 75–77. https://doi.org/10.3417/2010036</p>
<p>Satija, C.K., Bir, S.S. & Bhardwaj, A.K. (1983) Taxonomic revisions of the polypodiaceous genera of India <em>Pyrrosia </em>Mirbel. <em>Bulletin of Botanical Survey of India</em> 25 (1–4): 62–89.</p>
<p>Sharma, P., Samant, S.S. & Lal, M. (2017) Assessment of plant diversity for threat elements: A case study of Nargu wildlife sanctuary, north-western Himalaya. <em>Ceylon Journal of Science</em> 46 (1): 75–95. https://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v46i1.7420</p>
<p>Shing, K.H. (1983) A reclassification of the fern genus <em>Pyrrosia</em>. <em>American Fern Journal</em> 73 (3): 73–78. https://doi.org/10.2307/1546853</p>
<p>Singh, B. (2021) <em>Swertia patnitopiansis</em>, a new species of Gentianaceae from north-western Himalaya, India. <em>Phytotaxa </em>498 (4): 273–280. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.498.4.5</p>
<p>Singh, B., Sultan, P. & Bedi, Y.S. (2018a) <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. (Cupressaceae): a new taxa record for Himalaya and extension of geographic distribution in south Asia. <em>National Academy Science Letters-India</em> 41 (1): 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-018-0610-9</p>
<p>Singh, B., Singh, S. & Singh, B. (2018b) New distribution records of the leopard plants <em>Ligularia amplexicaulis </em>DC. and <em>Ligularia sibirica</em> (L.) Cass. (Asteraceae) in the Indian Himalaya. <em>Journal of Threatened Taxa</em> 10 (13): 12854–12858. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4005.10.13.12854-12858</p>
<p>Singh, B., Singh, V.N., Phukan, S.J., Sinha, B.K. & Borthakur, S.K. (2012) Contribution to the pteridophytic flora of India: Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Meghalaya. <em>Journal of Threatened Taxa </em>3 (12): 2277–2294. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2751.2277-94</p>
<p>Singh, H., Srivastava, A., Kumar, A., Sundaresan, V. & Husain, Tariq (2018) <em>Thalictrum nainitalense </em>(Ranunculaceae), a new species from the Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. <em>Folia Geobotanica</em> 53: 449–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-018-9326-3</p>
<p>Shing, K.H. & Iwatsuki, K. (1997) On the fern genus <em>Pyrrosia </em>Mirbel (Polypodiaceae) in Asia and adjacent Oceania. <em>The Journal of Japanese Botany</em> 72: 19–35.</p>
<p>Smith, J.E. (1805) <em>Exotic Botany</em>. R. Taylor & Co., London, 119 pp. + 60 pl.</p>
<p>Swartz, O. (1801) Genera et Species Filicum. <em>Journal für die Botanik [Schrader]</em> 1800-2 (1–2): 1–136.</p>
<p>Tagawa, M. & Iwatsuki, K. (1967) New or interesting ferns from Thailand. <em>Acta</em> <em>Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica</em> 22 (4–6): 97–103.</p>
<p>Thakur, S., Singh, B., Tashi, N. & Dutt, H.C. (2020) <em>Neoconopodium paddarensis</em>, a new species of Apiaceae from Jammu and Kashmir, Western Himalaya, India. <em>Phytotaxa</em> 459 (4): 285–290. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.459.4.4</p>
<p>Thiers, B. (2019) Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York botanical garden’s virtual herbarium database, New York. Available from: http://sweetgum. nybg.org/ih/ (accessed 11 October 2021)</p>
<p>Uffelen, G.A. & Hennipman, E (1985) The spores of <em>Pyrrosia </em>Mirbel (Polypodiaceae), a SEM study. <em>Pollen et spores</em> 27 (2): 155–198.</p>
<p>Bhellum, B.L. & Singh, B. (2016) A new species of <em>Laportea </em>Gaudich. (Urticaceae) from Himalaya, India. <em>Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy</em> 23 (2): 189–194. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v23i2.30849</p>
<p>Blume, C.L. (1856) <em>Museum Botanicum </em>Vol. 2. E.J. Brill, Leiden, 256 pp.</p>
<p>Chandra, P. (1964) A new species of <em>Pyrrosia</em> from India. <em>American Fern Journal</em> 54 (2): 62–67. https://doi.org/10.2307/1547034</p>
<p>Chandra, S. (2000) <em>The Ferns of India-Enumeration, Synonyms and Distribution</em>. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun, India, 459 pp.</p>
<p>Ching, R.C. (1935) On the genus <em>Pyrrosia</em> Mirbel from the Mainland of Asia incl. Japan and Formosa. <em>Bulletin of the Chinese Botanical Society</em> 1: 36–72.</p>
<p>Ching, R.C. (1940) On the natural classification of the family Polypodiaceae. <em>Sunyatsenia</em> 5: 202–268.</p>
<p>Chowdhury, N.P. (1973) <em>The Pteridophytic Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain.</em> Navayug Traders, New Delhi, India, 558 pp.</p>
<p>Clarke, C.B. & Baker, J.G. (1888) Supplementary Note on the Ferns of Northern India. <em>Journal of the Linnean Society of London</em> 24: 408–418. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1888.tb01334.x</p>
<p>Clarke, C.B. (1879) Ferns of north India. <em>Journal of the Linnean Society of London</em> 17: 402–404. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1879.tb00449.x</p>
<p>Dixit, R.D. (1984) <em>A Census of the Indian Pteridophytes</em>, Flora of India, Series 4. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India, 177 pp.</p>
<p>Don, D. (1825) <em>Prodromus Florae Nepalensis</em>. J. Gale, London, 308 pp.</p>
<p>Farwell, O.A. (1931) <em>The American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 12</em>. The University of Notre Dame, USA, 245 pp. https://doi.org/10.2307/2420088</p>
<p>Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. (2008) <em>Taxonomic Revision of Three Hundred Indian Subcontinental Pteridophytes with a Revised Census-List</em> (A new picture of fern-taxonomy and nomenclature in the Indian subcontinent). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India, 685 pp.</p>
<p>Giesenhagen, K.F.G. (1901) <em>Die Farngattung</em> <em>Niphobolus</em>. Gustav Fischer, Jena, 223 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.15647</p>
<p>Hovenkamp, P.H. (1984) Some new names and combinations in <em>Pyrrosia</em> Mirbel (Polypodiaceae). <em>Blumea</em> 30 (1): 207–208.</p>
<p>Hovenkamp, P.H. (1986) <em>A monograph of the fern genus</em> <em>Pyrrosia</em>. Leiden University Press, Leiden.</p>
<p>Khullar, S.P. (1988) The ferns of West Himalaya: An enumeration as in the illustrated fern flora of West Himalaya. <em>Himalayan Research & Development</em> 7: 59–67.</p>
<p>Linné, C. (1753) <em>Species Plantarum</em>. L. Salvius, Stockholm, 1200 pp.</p>
<p>Mehra, P.N. (1939) <em>Ferns of Mussoorie</em>. Panjab University (Lahore) Publications, 29 pp.</p>
<p>Mirbel, C.F.B. de (1802[1803]) <em>Histoire Naturelle des Végétaux, Classés par Familles</em>, t. 3. Crapelet, Paris, 588 pp.</p>
<p>Nayar, B.K. & Chandra, S. (1966) Morphological series within the genus <em>Pyrrosia</em>, and their phylogenetic interpretation. <em>Canadian Journal of Botany</em> 45 (5): 615–634. https://doi.org/10.1139/b67-068</p>
<p>Pande, P.C. (1990) A census of Kumaun Ferns (North-Western Himalaya). <em>Indian Fern Journal</em> 7: 140–195.</p>
<p>POWO (2021) <em>Plants of the World Online</em>. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ (accessed 11 October 2021)</p>
<p>Presl, C. (1836) <em>Tentamen Pteridographiae.</em> T. Haase fils., Prague, 523 pp.</p>
<p>Presl, J. & Presl, C. (1822) <em>Deliciae Pragenses</em>, Vol. 1. Calve, Prague, 244 pp.</p>
<p>Rakotondrainibe, F. & Hovenkamp, P.H. (2012) A new species of <em>Pyrrosia</em> (Polypodiaceae) from Madagascar. <em>Novon </em>22: 75–77. https://doi.org/10.3417/2010036</p>
<p>Satija, C.K., Bir, S.S. & Bhardwaj, A.K. (1983) Taxonomic revisions of the polypodiaceous genera of India <em>Pyrrosia </em>Mirbel. <em>Bulletin of Botanical Survey of India</em> 25 (1–4): 62–89.</p>
<p>Sharma, P., Samant, S.S. & Lal, M. (2017) Assessment of plant diversity for threat elements: A case study of Nargu wildlife sanctuary, north-western Himalaya. <em>Ceylon Journal of Science</em> 46 (1): 75–95. https://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v46i1.7420</p>
<p>Shing, K.H. (1983) A reclassification of the fern genus <em>Pyrrosia</em>. <em>American Fern Journal</em> 73 (3): 73–78. https://doi.org/10.2307/1546853</p>
<p>Singh, B. (2021) <em>Swertia patnitopiansis</em>, a new species of Gentianaceae from north-western Himalaya, India. <em>Phytotaxa </em>498 (4): 273–280. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.498.4.5</p>
<p>Singh, B., Sultan, P. & Bedi, Y.S. (2018a) <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. (Cupressaceae): a new taxa record for Himalaya and extension of geographic distribution in south Asia. <em>National Academy Science Letters-India</em> 41 (1): 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-018-0610-9</p>
<p>Singh, B., Singh, S. & Singh, B. (2018b) New distribution records of the leopard plants <em>Ligularia amplexicaulis </em>DC. and <em>Ligularia sibirica</em> (L.) Cass. (Asteraceae) in the Indian Himalaya. <em>Journal of Threatened Taxa</em> 10 (13): 12854–12858. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4005.10.13.12854-12858</p>
<p>Singh, B., Singh, V.N., Phukan, S.J., Sinha, B.K. & Borthakur, S.K. (2012) Contribution to the pteridophytic flora of India: Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Meghalaya. <em>Journal of Threatened Taxa </em>3 (12): 2277–2294. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2751.2277-94</p>
<p>Singh, H., Srivastava, A., Kumar, A., Sundaresan, V. & Husain, Tariq (2018) <em>Thalictrum nainitalense </em>(Ranunculaceae), a new species from the Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. <em>Folia Geobotanica</em> 53: 449–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-018-9326-3</p>
<p>Shing, K.H. & Iwatsuki, K. (1997) On the fern genus <em>Pyrrosia </em>Mirbel (Polypodiaceae) in Asia and adjacent Oceania. <em>The Journal of Japanese Botany</em> 72: 19–35.</p>
<p>Smith, J.E. (1805) <em>Exotic Botany</em>. R. Taylor & Co., London, 119 pp. + 60 pl.</p>
<p>Swartz, O. (1801) Genera et Species Filicum. <em>Journal für die Botanik [Schrader]</em> 1800-2 (1–2): 1–136.</p>
<p>Tagawa, M. & Iwatsuki, K. (1967) New or interesting ferns from Thailand. <em>Acta</em> <em>Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica</em> 22 (4–6): 97–103.</p>
<p>Thakur, S., Singh, B., Tashi, N. & Dutt, H.C. (2020) <em>Neoconopodium paddarensis</em>, a new species of Apiaceae from Jammu and Kashmir, Western Himalaya, India. <em>Phytotaxa</em> 459 (4): 285–290. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.459.4.4</p>
<p>Thiers, B. (2019) Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York botanical garden’s virtual herbarium database, New York. Available from: http://sweetgum. nybg.org/ih/ (accessed 11 October 2021)</p>
<p>Uffelen, G.A. & Hennipman, E (1985) The spores of <em>Pyrrosia </em>Mirbel (Polypodiaceae), a SEM study. <em>Pollen et spores</em> 27 (2): 155–198.</p>