Ornamental pteridophytes: an underexploited opportunity for the Sri Lankan floriculture industry

Abstract

Abstract:In the floriculture industry of Sri Lanka, the main operations are the production of cut foliage followed by rooted cuttings and potted plants for the export market. Cut foliage species include several genera and species of flowering plants and a few species of pteridophytes. The history of collection of pteridophyte flora in Sri Lanka dates back to 1672, however at present only a few of pteridophytes are used in the domestic and international floriculture markets. Sri Lanka is blessed with a high level of diversity of pteridophyte taxa, with an enormous diversity of plant form, appearance and foliage patterns. They thrive in many habitats and are suitable to be used in the floriculture industry of the country. Several species are suggested as suitable candidates for rational domestication and use in the floriculture industry. Effective domestication of the selected pteridophyte taxa will be useful for their in situ, ex situ and circa situm conservation through utilisation.

Potential uses of lycophytes and ferns in Sri Lanka: an ethnopteridological perspective

“…Moreover, Ranil et al (2005) conducted a survey on uses of pteridophytes while interviewing village physicians and indigenous community members, and summarized the food, ornamental and medicinal value of pteridophytes with examples. The potential of pteridophytes for the Sri Lankan floriculture industry has discussed by Ranil et al (2015), while providing a wealth of information on aesthetic values and market values of native pteridophytes.…”

Potencial ornamental de samambaias e licófitas no Leste do Maranhão, Brasil

“…Nas floriculturas, os ramos eretos auxiliam na beleza dos arranjos florais (Jones, 1987). Ainda mais, as variações morfológicas (tamanho e cores) das frondes de samambaias, são usadas nos arranjos como preenchimento e para propor inovações e tendência no ramo florista (Ranil, et al, 2015).…”

“…O potencial ornamental das samambaias e licófitas é ressaltado pela sua plasticidade adaptativa, onde em áreas naturais, há espécies que se desenvolvem no interior das matas, em ambientes sombreados e úmido; e outras se desenvolvem em áreas abertas e ensolaradas. Além do mais, apresentam uma diversidade de habitats (terrestres, aquáticos, epífitas e hemiepífitas), as proporcionando adaptabilidade em ser cultivadas em canteiros ou vasos em jardins de áreas abertas ou sob diferentes níveis de sombra (Jones, 1987& Ranil, et al, 2015. Além de valores estéticos, são capazes de proporcionar bem-estar ao ambiente, pois podem purificar o ar e retirar impurezas da água, como algumas espécies de Pteris, Nephrolepis e espécies aquáticas de samambaias (Wolverton & Wolverton, 1993, Rathinasabapathi, et al, 2006, Bhupinder, 2009).…”

Ethnomedicinal and traditional uses of the Ferns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…), India (Pathak et al, 2011); Kolli hills, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India (Perumal, 2010); Similipal biosphere reserve, Orissa, India (Rout et al, 2009); Kerala, South India (Kumar et al, 2003); Rajasthan, India (Parihar and Parihar, 2006); Banajalaya conserved forest area of Shimoga District, Karnataka, India (Deepa et al, 2014) and from others mainland of India (Singh and Viswanathan, 1996;Vasudev, 1999). Ferns are used as a source of food, fibers, fuel (Biplab and Subir, 2007); screen heavy metals from the soil (Deepa et al, 2014); enhance environmental beauty and reduces pollution (Ranil et al, 2015;Gul et al, 2016b); adds pleasant scenery of gardens, parks and houses (Manickam and Irudayaraj, 2003); improves environmental beauty of offices, schools and hospitals (Mittal and Bir, 2006;Pande, 1991).…”