DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION PERSPECTIVES OF PTERIDOPHYTES IN KORBA DISTRICT, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

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Swapnil Anand¹, Dinesh Kumar Singh², Ankita Verma¹, Ruchi Mani¹, Rupendra Kumar Yadav¹, Vaishali Bhartiya¹ and Deepak Kumar Gond¹*

¹Department of Botany, Chaudhary Mahadeo Prasad Degree College, Prayagraj-211002, Uttar Pradesh, India

²Freelancer botanist, Prakriti Farms, Korba-495677, Chhattisgarh, India

Email: botanydeepakgond@gmail.com

Received-15.06.2026, Revised-08.07.2026, Accepted-30.07.2026

Abstract: Pteridophytes are important components of forest ecosystems, contributing significantly to biodiversity and ecological stability. Despite its extensive forest cover and favourable climatic conditions, the pteridophytic flora of the Korba district, Chhattisgarh, Central India, remains unexplored. The present study aimed to document the pteridophyte diversity of the district, provide taxonomic descriptions, assess population status and highlight conservation needs. Extensive field surveys were conducted across the Korba district from 2024 to 2026. Specimens were collected in both vegetative and reproductive stages and processed using standard herbarium techniques. Taxonomic identification was carried out using regional floras and relevant taxonomic literature. A comprehensive review of available literature revealed no previous systematic account of the pteridophytes of the Korba district. The study recorded 30 species belonging to 21 genera and 13 families, all representing new distributional records for the district. These findings provide a baseline for future taxonomic, ecological, and conservation research on pteridophytes in Central India.

Keywords: Chhattisgarh, Conservation, Korba district, New record, Pteridophytes

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