An updated checklist of Pteridophytes of district Mansehra , Khyber Pukhtunkhwa-Pakistan

janalamkuh@yahoo.com Abstract Critical examination of the pteridophytes of District Mansehra based on our own field surveys and previous literature as well revealed the occurrence of total 130 taxa distributed in 34 genera and 17 families. Of these, 23taxa are new records for the study area, while Polystichum obliquum (D. Don) T. Moore is reported for the first time for Pakistan. Nomenclatural reassessment of previously reported taxa suggests that 23 taxa are now synonyms. Habitatwise, 68 taxa are terrestrial, while 54 are epilithic, 5exist as epiphytes and the remaining 3 are aquatic.


Introduction
The floristic studies in Pakistan are still lagging.Most of the work has been done on angiosperms and awfully only sporadic work is available on lower plants especially cryptogams.Consequently, the pteridophyte flora of Pakistan is still somewhat unexplored.This study is an attempt to assess the pteridophytic diversity in Mansehra district.Prior to this attempt, very few workers have performed the diversity analysis in various potential regions of Pakistan especially, Mansehra District.Stewart (1972) was the first person who compiled a detailed checklist of ferns and fern allies for Pakistan and Kashmir.He reported 133 species, of which, 39 species were also listed from Mansehra district.Later on, a Japanese team became active in 1990-1991and collected ample material of lower plants from Pakistan.They especially focused the North Western Himalayan region.Their findings were published by Nakaike andMalik (1992, 1993).They provided a comprehensive list of 87 pteridophytes under 18 families and 30 genera.They also showed the occurrence of 62 taxa from District Mansehra.In the same years, Fraser-Jenkins (1991) studied the ferns and allies of the West Himalaya and reported 189 species in Pakistan.
Epilithic on rock cliffs and fissures on the edges of forests.
Epilithic on rock cliffs.
Epilithic on rock, cliffs and fissures the edges of forests.
Epilithic on rock along mountain paths.
Epilithic on rock cliffs and fissures on the edges of forests.
Epilithic on rock along mountain paths.
Epilithic on rock, cliffs and fissures the edges of forests.
Terrestrial on mountain slopes in forests in open places and banks along forest tracts near streams sheds.Nakaike, 1993

Table 1 .Contd. Check List of the Pteridophyte Taxa of Mansehra District
Dennstaediaceae Pteridium aquilinum ( L.) Kuhn 914-2800m Mansehra: Shogran and Sari Hut, Paprang, Mansehra Naran, Shran Forest Forest ground, terrestrial in open places on hill sides on the edges of forest along mountain tracts, and on mountain slopes in forests.Nakaike, 1993

Table 1 .Contd. Check List of the Pteridophyte Taxa of Mansehra District
Stewart, 19721972