Comparative Morpho-Anatomical and Ecological Study of Ophioglossum raphaelianum and Ophioglossum rubellum in Menal Forest, Rajasthan, India

Shreya Shekhawat, Shahdab Hussain

Abstract: The present study reports the first occurrence of Ophioglossum rubellum Welw. ex A. Braun and Ophioglossum raphaelianum in the Menal Forest of Rajasthan, India, significantly extending their known geographical distribution. Detailed morphological, palynological, and ecological analyses were conducted to differentiate these species and understand their adaptations to semi-arid conditions. O. rubellum exhibits lophate spores, a globose-fusiform rhizome, and copper-tinged tropophylls, while O. raphaelianum is characterized by foveolate spores, a globose-ellipsoid rhizome, and bluish-green foliage. Both species were found in bryophyte-rich microhabitats, indicating moisture-dependent survival strategies in an otherwise arid region. This discovery underscores the ecological uniqueness of Menal Forest and highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts to protect these ferns and their fragile habitats. The study contributes to the global understanding of Ophioglossum diversity and emphasizes the importance of further floristic explorations in understudied regions.

Keywords: Ophioglossum, adder?s-tongue ferns, spore morphology, SEM, microhabitat, pteridophyte conservation, semi-arid ecosystems

How to Cite?: Shreya Shekhawat, Shahdab Hussain, "Comparative Morpho-Anatomical and Ecological Study of Ophioglossum raphaelianum and Ophioglossum rubellum in Menal Forest, Rajasthan, India", Volume 14 Issue 8, August 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1181-1186, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25821230416, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25821230416