Diversity of Ferns and Lycophytes of Pergau Dam, Kelantan and its Vicinity

Abstract

Ferns and lycophytes were opportunistically collected along the major trail at Gunung Basor Forest Reserve near Pergau Dam, Kelantan. Samples were curated, identified and deposited at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Herbarium (UKMB). From the sampling area, a total of 94 taxa of ferns and lycophytes in 55 genera and 29 families were identified. This figure represents 8.07% of the total 1165 taxa of ferns and lycophytes in Malaysia and 14.52% of 647 taxa recorded in Semenanjung Malaysia. Polypodiaceae is the largest family recorded with 11 species in eight genera. The second largest family is Aspleniaceae with 10 species in a single genus. This is followed by the family Grammitidaceae with eight species in six genera. The most widely recorded species is from the genus Asplenium. The smallest families with one species each are Blechnaceae, Cyatheaceae, Gleichiniaceae, Marattiaceae, Matoniaceae, Oleandraceae, Ophioglossaceae, Psilotaceae, Pteridaceae and Sinopteridaceae. From the 94 taxa reported, terrestrial species are the most dominant with ca. 53 species covering 56.0% and followed by epiphytic species (33%) and litophyte species (10.6%).