ABSTRACT
The pattern of distribution of pteridophytes in the Western Ghats region of the Peninsular India is presented. The distribution of plants, especially the pteridophytes of the Western Ghats, is mainly based on the moisture regime, and the extent of rainless days. The northern parts of the Western Ghats are comparatively drier, with less vegetation cover, and pteridophyte diversity. The vegetation cover, and species diversity of pteridophytes, increases to its southern parts. At the extreme south, it again transforms to dry area with less forest cover, and a lesser number of pteridophytes. The pattern of pteridophyte distribution changes along the altitudinal gradients also. It shows a huped pattern with maximum in the altitudinal zone of above 1000 m. The extent of sharedness of the pteridophyte taxa, based on Sorensen Similarity Index, was calculated for the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The sharedness of pteridophytes was also verified for Sri Lanka.
