India’s largest open-air fernery was inaugurated on September 12 in Uttarakhand’s Ranikhet.
- The fernery is home to a large number of fern species, some of which are endemic to the state, some hold medicinal value while some are threatened species that demand care and conservation.
- The newly inaugurated fernery is one of the biggest ferneries in India. The fernery has the largest collection of fern species, second to only Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram.
- However, it is the country’s first open-air fernery in natural surroundings which is not under any poly-house/ shade house.
- The Ranikhet fernery spreads over four acres of land at an altitude of 1,800 metres.
- The Ranikhet fernery has 120 different types of fern. The fernery has a mix of species from the western Himalayan region, the eastern Himalayan region, and the Western Ghats. It houses several rare species, including Tree Fern, a threatened species by the State Biodiversity Board of Uttarakhand.
- The fernery also houses around 30 species of medicinal ferns such as Hansraj, which has huge importance in Ayurveda as a remedy for ailments. Further, there are edible fern species like Lingura, a popular nutritious food item in Uttarakhand.
- There are epiphyte, aquatic ferns, and other ornamental ferns. For instance, Vishkanya, Mayurshikha, Boston fern, Lady fern, Rock Fern, Basket Fern, Ladder fern, Golden fern, and Horsetail fern. Some of the species on the red list present at the fernery include Ophioglossum reticulatum, Pteris vittata among others.
- Ferns are non-flowering pteridophytes. They generally reproduce by producing spores. However, similar to flowering plants, ferns have roots, stems, and leaves. Ferns are the first plant with a fully developed vascular system.
(Source: AIR)
JOIN GS TIMES IAS PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS DAILY ONLINE TEST SERIES: HINDI AND ENGLISH
CLICK HERE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ FOR STATE CIVIL SERVICES
