TAXONOMIC ASSESMENT AND DIVERSITY OF FERNS FOUND IN

BODOLAND UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, KOKRAJHAR, Assam, India

Dr. S. Baruah 1* and C. Darji 2

Department of Botany, Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, Assam

Abstract
An intensive field study was done to study the ferns of Bodoland University, Kokrajhar. The fern
species found during the field study were collected, studied and identified by studying different
books and literatures. A total of 23 species under 18 genera of 12 families have been enumerated.

Keywords Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, Study area

Introduction
The Pteridophytes formed a dominant part of earth’s vegetation of the earth about 280-230 million
years ago (Mehra, 1967; Bir, 1976, 1978; Khare, 1996). At present Pteridophytes occupy a crucial
and important position in the evolutionary history of the plant kingdom. Out of the different
Pteridophytes, the Fern have been occupying major places. Ferns are the assemblage of vascular
cryptogams that have established most successfully to life on land. Fern are the successful invader
of the varied habitats. The living Fern comprises about 305 genera and 10,000 species. In India
more than n 1000 species reported (Dixit, 1984). Bir (1978) give detailed account of the Indian
Pteridology. B. D. Sharma (1994) studied about morphology, anatomy, and reproductive biology of
Pteridophytes. Some important works of Ferns from different regions of Assam and nearby areas
was done by Kachroo (1953), Borthakur et al., Sen et al. (2011), Shyam et al. (2012).

Methods and Materials

1. Study area

Bodoland University, established in 2009, is a state university located in Debargaon, Kokrajhar, and
Bodoland. This is about 9.3 km away from Kokrajhar town. Bodoland University campus lies within
90°17’20” East to 90°17’55” East and 26°28’05” North to 26°28’20. The present area of the district
is estimated to be 3,169.22 Sq.Km, where Bodoland University campus comprises approximately
284,993 sq.m which Perimeter about 2.43 km. The campus is situated on the east bank of the
Gaurang River. The maximum and minimum average temperatures in the district are 28.5°C and
21.2°C respectively. The average relative humidity in the district ranges from 78% to 85%. The
vegetative and reproductive parts of the species found in the survey area were collected and
herberium were made for further study and identification following Jain and Rao (1976).
2. Field and Herbarium methods

The study includes collection of plants for taxonomic study and herbarium specimens of ferns
occurring in campus area through field works, their identification and documentation. While during
field works the standard techniques for collection, pressing and preparation of herbarium
specimens have been followed as suggested by Jain and Rao (1976).The field data has been
included on the herberium sheets according the specimen of which this study is based, have been
deposited in the Bodoland university botanical herbarium (BUBH). A detail account of the fern
diversity of Bodoland University campus, the fern families are arranged according to latest
classification proposed by Smith et al (2006).