Results and Discussions

The sacred forests of Yana are characterized by low elevation evergreen and semi-evergreen climax and potentially related forests (Pascal et al., 1982) and harbor many endemic angiosperms such as Diospyros candolleana, Knema attenuata, Myristica malabarica, Artocarpus hirsutus, Holigarna arnottiana, Actinodaphne hookerii, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, etc. The moist and humid environment coupled with the presence of many perennial streams favor a luxuriant growth of ferns and fern-allies in these forests. Altogether, 21 species of ferns, belonging to 17 genera and 15 families, were recorded from Yana (Table 1). Among the fern families, Pteridaceae was dominant with 5 species followed by Blechnaceae and Lomariopsidaceae with 2 species each, while the other families were represented by single species each. At generic level, Pteris was found to be dominant with 4 species followed by Bolbitis with 2 species while the remaining fern genera were represented by single species each. The notable fern species in Yana included tree fern Cyathea gigantea along with Bolbitis semicordata and B. subcrenatoides which are considered to be endemic to south India (Fraser-Jenkins 2008b). Other common and well represented ferns included Blechnum orientale, Christella parasitica, Dicranopteris linearis, Pteris pellucida, Stenochlaena palustris and Tectaria coadunata. Most of the ferns present in this region are known for ethno-medicinal uses, as dealt with in various studies conducted elsewhere in the country. Plate I & Plate II depicts the selected ferns of the region.

TABLE 1 : Ferns recorded from Yana sacred forests

The occurrence of rich diversity in Yana coupled with fragile ecology due to anthropogenic stress (due to unplanned tourism), necessitate appropriate conservation measures for the protection of sacred forests. The practice of sacred forest conservation is on the wane due to cultural erosion, which is affecting the rare and high humidity loving ferns. Yana is an instance of a relatively smaller patch of nearly pristine forests functioning as a rich repository of pteridophytes like Cyathea gigantea, Angiopteris helferiana, Stenochlena palustris, Bolbitis spp. etc. This forest patch is in contrast to the bulk of secondary forests, in nearby villages, practically bereft of rare ferns. Yana forests though survived pressures of erstwhile slash and burn cultivators, betel-nut farmers and loggers, due to the sacredness attributed by local people. However, the spurt of tourism with numerous visitors, both pilgrims and picnickers in recent times, has increased and pressures on the forests evident from the construction of roads, fragmenting sensitive forest habitats. The clamor is on for other kinds of constructions as well near the rocks. In any case the rare pteridophytes cannot stand the ravages of humans for long. The locally constituted village forest committee and the forest department are striving to safeguard the ecology of the forests.