WONDER HERBALS- BRYOPHYTES, OF THE PONMUDI HILLS, OF SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS: WINDOW INTO THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION

Bryophytes are considered as wonder medicinal herbs of new, novel products or phytochemicals, many of which have shown potential biological activity. Although Bryophytes are familiar, their medicinal importance is yet to be exploited fully. They are employed in pharmaceutical research (antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, antitumor, vasopressin antagonist, cardiotonic, allergy causing, irritancy, insecticidal), horticulture, household purposes and are also ecologically unique as pioneer species and also environmental indicators. They form the oldest known land plants, which includes 22000 species belongs to liverworts, hornworts and mosses. Bryophytes are amphibians of the plant world prefer to grow in moist dampy environmental conditions and represent a considerable portion of plant diversity within forests. This is because their diversity is closely linked with microhabitat diversity. Poor information was available on the bryophytes of Ponmudi hills, Kerala. Present work deals with the species composition and distribution of bryophytes at Ponmudi hills. Data was collected by using 0.25 x 0.25 M quadrate and 120 quadrate samples were collected. 40 genera and 48 species were recorded in the study area with maximum density for Philonotis mollis, Bryum coronatum, Bryum capillare, Brachymenium exile, Fossombronia foveolata, Fissidens asperisetus, Fissidens crenulatus, Fissidens crispulus, Barbula indica, Leucobryum bowringii, Octoblepharum albidum, Mnium rostratum, Riccia fluitans, Marchantia polymorpha, Targionia hypophylla, Cyathodium cavernarum, Porella acutifolia, Riccardia multifida, Macromitrium nepalense, Racopilum cuspidigerum,