Diversity of pteridophytes in miniature sacred forests of Kanyakumari district, Southern Western Ghats

Pteridophytes do not form dominant vegetation anywhere on the earth surface now, but have been replaced by the seed-bearing plants. Their occurrence in several small patches relays the message of richness. During the present study, 24 species of Pteridophytes were inventoried from Vilavancode, Kalkulam and Thovalai sacred groves of Kanyakumari district, Southern Western Ghats, India. Some of them are well known for their economic values. The species richness was more or less similar in the first two sacred groves, however, it was reduced to 6 in Thovalai. The terrestrial Pteridophytes were dominant over epiphytes. The lithophytic species were least in number. As a result of rapid urbanization and biotic interference these important plants are under threat and their population is being reduced, due to the ever-increasing human population. Some rare, endangered and endemic species are still present only in some pockets of this district and are conserved by indigenous people in the form of sacred groves.