Variations in Pyrrosia heterophylla (L.) Price Accessions and Evidence for the Occurrence of a New Pyrrosia Species in Kerala, South India

Abstract

Pyrrosia belonging to Polypodiaceae, commonly known as felt ferns is characterized by its simple leaves and the presence of stellate hairs in the frond. Despite the great range of variability within the species, accessions of P. heterophylla (L.) Price from Kerala have not been extensively examined. The present study aims at the morpho-anatomical comparison of accessions. The samples were collected and variable characters such as habitats, shape, colour, thickness, width, length of sterile fronds, length, width and spore arrangement of fertile fronds, scales and the internal structure of the rhizome, stipe, and lamina of 20 accessions were examined and photographed using Carl Zeiss photomicroscope. Observations of the epidermis, including stomata and stellate hairs, were also made. Coded binary states of characters were used for developing a data matrix, which was further analysed. Cluster analysis using the UPGMA method were done from which a dendrogram was constructed which represents the taxonomic relationships among the species. In terms of the morphology and anatomy of the plant parts, three of the 20 accessions differed from P. heterophylla (L.) Price.