Fern House of CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute and its significance

59-70<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:calibri;="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">Pteridophytes (Ferns and fern allies) are the non-flowering vascular plants and hold intermediate position in the plant kingdom. To conserve these plants, a pyramid shaped fern house is established in an area of 593 sq. m. where ideal climatic conditions have been maintained. In this house more than 65 species including economic, exotic, relic and threatened species have been conserved and are being propagated. Notable among these are: Adiantum peruvianum, A.hispidulum, Blechnum occidentale, Bolbitis heteroclita, Diplazium esculentum, Doryopteris ludens, Drynaria quercifolia, Equisetum debile, Lygodium flexuosum, Helminthostachys zeylanica Microsorium alternifolium, Nephrolepis cordifolia, N. cordifolia cv. 'duffii', N. tuberosa, Ophioglossum reticulatum, Psilotum nudum, Pteris cretica cv. 'albolineata', P. vittata and Selaginella bryopteris. Mass multiplication of several significant species has been standardized and is also released for sale.