Guizhou Pteridophyte Flora

Author: Wang Peishan, Wang Xiaoying
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-12-01
Features: Ferns are important plant resources in southern China. This book records 53 families, 151 genera, 770 species, 28 varieties, 8 forms, and 2 hybrids of wild ferns in Guizhou. Based on the currently available data, the number of families and genera ranks third in China, only second to Yunnan in terms of families and genera, and slightly fewer than Sichuan in terms of species. The book draws on the strengths of similar fern floras from both domestic and international sources. It not only benefits professionals in relevant fields such as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, medicine, horticulture, and environmental protection but also provides valuable reference material for faculty and students in higher education institutions. The book is divided into two main parts: Introduction and Main Body. General readers who read the Introduction, especially the sections on the characteristics and morphology of ferns, will find it easy to understand the descriptions of various fern groups in the Main Body.
The protection of biodiversity has become a globally recognized issue. This is not just the responsibility of government agencies but is also closely related to local communities. Ferns have a close connection with the people of Guizhou, a mountainous region: there is a long history of their use in food and medicine, and diverse fern species are now being artificially introduced and cultivated as ornamental plants for gardens and indoor decoration. Since the reform and opening-up, industrial and agricultural production in Guizhou has developed rapidly, and the region is now at an excellent time for the Western Development Strategy. How to balance the development and utilization of biological resources, including ferns, requires our special attention. The section on "Ferns and People" in the Introduction addresses these issues.
To save space and allow readers to quickly locate relevant groups, the Main Body does not include descriptions at the family level. The descriptions of genera and species are arranged in alphabetical order. In the Introduction, the "Systematic Arrangement of Ferns in Guizhou" based on Qin Renchang's system, as well as a family and genus key, are provided. This helps beginners gain a general understanding of fern classification and offers tools for identifying different groups. The arrangement of genera and species in the Main Body in alphabetical order facilitates quick searches. Each species is generally described in Chinese, Latin name, literature references, morphological characteristics, habitat, distribution, and uses, with concise descriptions. The Chinese names follow the commonly used names in China, and distinctive names specific to Guizhou are also included where possible. The literature references are primarily for researchers and are listed in foreign languages. Most references are included for materials related to Guizhou. The distribution of species within the province is presented by county (city), using a mapping method. For most groups, the maps are based on specimens from the localities, ensuring reliability and.
To assist readers in identification and verification, the book includes illustrations of 462 plant species, covering common, rare and endangered, and economically valuable types. The illustrations were not sourced from existing materials but were primarily drawn by the authors based on herbarium specimens or living plants from Guizhou. While the technical quality may not be perfect, the scientific accuracy is reliable.
With the rapid progress in cytology and palynology, research on the individual development and systematic evolution of ferns has deepened. However, studies on fern cytology using materials from Guizhou remain relatively scarce. Recognizing this, the book only provides references to chromosome base numbers at the genus level based on reliable data. In terms of spore morphology research, hundreds of species from Guizhou have been used. The book includes a full-page section at the end to illustrate spore morphologies observed under a scanning electron microscope, hoping to inspire researchers to engage in such studies.