The present study is based on exhaustive collection and enlisting of 139 species of ferns occurring at Tungnath and 20 other adjoining localities ranging from 1000-4000m altitude. It is an important part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as the largest Protected Area in Western Himalayas) situated in Rudraprayag district of Garhwal Himalayas. The entire area from Rudraprayag to Tungnath is provided with unique ecological sites that favours the occurrence of great many ferns over here and quite many species are of rare status. Chandra (1979) mentioned 71 species, Joshi et al. since 2002 revealed the occurrence of 64 species from the area. The recent collections of pteridophytes carried out during 2011-12, based on which the diversity and distribution patterns, habitat preference, altitudinal distribution, rarity, ecological sites and conservation status are worked out.
Quantitative vegetation analysis of tree species in the forest adjacent to villages on the periphery of Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary
