The present study documents the diversity, habitat distribution and conservation significance of pteridophytes from Ponmudi hills and the surrounding areas, one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots in the southern Western Ghats. The study substantially expands the documented pteridophyte diversity of the region and provides an updated checklist of 104 pteridophytes species belonging to 51 genera and 26 families. Pteridaceae was the dominant family, followed by Polypodiaceae and Thelypteridaceae. Terrestrial species constituted the largest ecological group, while lithophytic, epiphytic, epilithic and aquatic species occupied distinct habitats, reflecting the ecological heterogeneity of the region. The documented flora highlights the conservation importance of Ponmudi Hills as a significant refuge for pteridophyte diversity in the southern Western Ghats and provides a valuable baseline for future biodiversity assessment, conservation planning and taxonomic research.
