Taxonomy of the Indian Members of Family "Aspleniaceae"

Taxonomic problems of family "Aspleniaceae" are discussed and confusions have been cleared about Asplenium dalhousiae, A. laciniatum, and A. planicaule, Athyrium boryanum, Diplazium polypodioides, and D. asperum. Comments have been made on the generic status of Ceterackopsis, Athyrium, Diplazium and Cornopleris. It has been proposed that Digrammaria may be recognised as a sub-genus within large and comprehensive genus Diplazium Swartz so as to represent such elements as Diplazium esculentum that show peculiar venation and anatomical structure not seen in any other species of the genus. Various taxonomic criteria have been enumerated with instances from amongst the "Aspleniaceae". Salient features of six new ferns discovered from the Himalayas, are given.