Abstract

In the present study, we describe Ophioglossum chaloneri as a new species from the Hurdulu forest area, near Ranchi (Jharkhand, India), on the basis of morphological, palynological, cytological, and molecular analyses. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners of genus Ophioglossum in having their unusually small linear rhizome with a long stalk of trophophore, a sporophore arising from a distance from the base of the trophophore hence not always adnate or appearing inserted at the base. Triradiate, round spores show small tubercles towards the proximal pyramidal area and irregular smooth elevated exine striations on both the proximal and distal faces. The ventral face of the trophophore is unusually thin all around margin thereby showing thin whitish margin from the lower side, a situation that may be due to lack of chloroplast all around the margin at the lower face of the trophophore. This feature is not observed in any other species of the genus. Molecular study based on three chloroplast DNA sequences (cpDNA) rbcL, trnL-F, and psbA-trnH also supports O. chaloneri as a distinct species.