Present Status of Liverwort Diversity at Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh)

Pachmarhi is located in the evergreen Mahadeo Hills of Central Satpura range with an average elevation of 1067 m and mean annual rainfall of 18 8 cm. It provides a favourable habitat for the growth of liverworts. Several sporadic reports on the bryophytes of the region in second half of the century exist. During a botanical survey of earlier collections from the unexplored localities of the area, a total number of 63 liverwort taxa have been collected. Dominated were: 33 species (52%) of Jungermanniales, followed by 22 species (35%) representation of Marchantiales and 8 species (13%) representation of Metzgeriales. The plant diversity and distribution of the area indicates that Pachmarhi (Central India) hosts an admixture flora, South India with 45 taxa, Eastern Himalayas with 44 taxa and Western Himalayas with 3 9 taxa while 6 taxa are restricted to the region only. The study further strengthens the belief of Central India to be the meeting ground of South India and Himalayan bryoflora.