Abstract

Knowledge of the epiphytic flora of the tropical forests of the Western Ghats of India is inadequate, and this study is the first attempt to compile information on the topic. The information presented is based on intensive botanical explorations in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve areas of the Kerala part of Western Ghats over 3 yr. Some 225 species of vascular epiphytes have been enumerated, of which 159 species belonging to 54 genera representing 12 families are angiosperms, and 66 species belongingto 29 genera representing 12 families are pteridophytes. Among the angiosperms the family Orchidaceae includes the highest number of epiphytic taxa with 129 species under 39 genera. Among the pteridophytes the family Polypodiaceae includes maximum numberof epiphytes with 18 species under 10 genera