Shakil D. Shaikh* and V. B. Chopade**
*Head, Department of
Botany, Abasaheb Marathe Arts and New Commerce, Science College, Rajapur. Dist:
Ratnagiri (MS-India)
**Department of Botany, Rajarshi Chhatrapati
Shahu College, Kolhapur (MS).
*corresponding
author email:lakish786@gmail.com
India is a mega biodiversity country
with about 17,000 species of vascular plants. More than 1200 species of fern
and fern- allies have been reported from India. Within India, the Western
Ghats, one of the hotspots of the world, possess a large extent of biodiversity.
Besides the economic values, a large number of them are cultivated for their
ornamental value either in indoors of the houses or outdoors in the botanical
gardens due to their delicate beauty and grace. Ferns have got great aesthetic
value for their elegant fronds and a large number of them are cultivated as
ornamental plants in houses and botanic gardens. More than 40 potential
ornamental and medicinally important ferns were listed in the present study and
majority of them are suitable for indoor gardens. Five plants are best for
rockeries. The ferns can grow well in such moist and shady conditions in the
gardens where other plants usually cannot grow.
Keywords: Ferns, medicinal and ornamental,
aesthetic, conservation.
