Checklist of pteridophytes from the district Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India

Pteridophyte is a major plant group that has great ecological significance. They can be found in various environments, including aquatic, epiphytic, lithophytic, and terrestrial. They can be found in their native state in open areas, alone, or in groups with other plants. District Jalpaiguri, which is situated in the northern part of West Bengal, is a well-appreciated biodiversity region of the Indian subcontinent. The rich and diverse vegetation in the area is a testament to the many unique ecological niches it has. However, the plant explorers in the region have not given enough attention to this particular group of plants due to the challenges associated with identifying the species. To fill the gap, we have conducted the present investigation to prepare a checklist of the area. This study aims to connect and showcase the wide range of intriguing species in this enigmatic group, catering to the interests of pteridologists. Among the studied species, 40 species were terrestrial, 18 species were lithophytic, 19 species were epiphytic, and 9 species were aquatic.