Abstract
Cytological observations on 40 taxa of South Indian ferns belonging to 32 species were made. Eighteen of these are diploids and the others show various levels of polyploidy (triploid to octoploid).Haploid chromosome numbers like n=30, n=38, and n=36 were observed in Pellaea boivini, Ceratopteris thalictroides and Grammitis attenuata respectively, which are new reports for these three genera. Evidences of new basic numbers like x=43 and x=30 were also obtained in the genera Lindsaya (L. heterophylla, n=86) and Doodia (D. media, n=60, 2n=120) respectively.The occurrence of more than one cytotype has been demonstrated in Pteris ensiformis v. victoriae, P. pellucida, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Asplenium unilaterale and Microsorittm pteropus.Irregular meiotic behaviour suggestive of hybrid origin has been studied in Pteris ensiformis, Microsorium pteropus and Salvinia auriculata. Adiantum polyphyllum was found to be a sterile hybrid.
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