This book is the result of more than five years of extensive field and laboratory studies on the polypodioid ferns of South India, covering Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Thirty three species belonging to fourteen genera under three families viz, Grammitidaceae, Loxogrammaceae and Polypodiaceae are treated. This is fully illustrated taxonomic account of this group for South India covering all important aspects including the history and classification of the group and its constituent taxa. Nomenclature and taxonomy of each species have been updated in consultation with types and other authentic specimens. Besides distribution maps, a brief note on the ecology of each species are provided. The exhaustive bibliography cited at the end will help future researchers in this field. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction; Importance of the present work, Review of literature, Area of study, Distribution and ecology, Materials and methods, Plan of the work; Chapter 2: Systematic treatment; Polypodioid ferns, Grammitidaceae, Loxogrammaceae, Polypodiaceae; Chapter 3: Discussion.

Polypodiatae