The present investigation revealed that the C. curviflora, C. peltata and E. hirta are potentially good source of antibacterial agents and demonstrates the importance of such plants in traditional medicines.

Objective: To study the morphology, biochemistry and bioactivity of the epidermal glands of the glandular morphotype of Christella parasitica (C. parasitica) (L.) H. Lev. Methods: Morphological studies on epidermal glands were carried out by using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. To prepare the extract, the shade-dried fronds of glandular morphotype were soaked in acetone. For antibacterial studies paper disc method was followed by using various pathogenic bacteria. Results: Detailed micromorphological, phytochemical and bioactivity studies on a medicinal fern C. parasitica (L.) H. Lev. showed its intraspecific variation in antibacterial activity. The presence or absence of the epidermal glands was the key factor for antibacterial activity in the morphovariants of this species. The epidermal glands were orange-coloured, stalked and elongated ones of about 84.2 毺 m 暳 45 毺 m, and distributed on the undersurface of costa, costules and veins in croziers, young and mature leaves. Frequency of glands varied from 15/cm on costa in mature leaves to 140/cm on costules in croziers. The acetone extract of the glands showed antibacterial activities and also toxic effect against mosquito larvae and tadpoles of frog. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPLC studies of the gland extract showed the presence of various kinds of terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids in it. Conclusions: The present study shows that epidermal glands of the glandular morphotype of C. parasitica (L.) H. Lev. have several bioactive compounds and such rare morphovariant should be conserved in nature. The next step is to isolate the pure compounds and to screen the bioactivity of individual compounds of the epidermal glands.

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The chromosomal observations were carried out on 66 taxa collected from Kolli Hills belongs to 38 genera and 20 families. Sixty two ferns were studied cytologically for the first time in this study area. The present study has revealed the presence of 32 sexual diploids, 20 sexual tetraploids, 2 apogamous tetraploids, 9 sexual octoploids, 2 apogamous triploids and one 12-ploid sexual species. The sexuality of polyploids has also been calculated. The maximum number of chromosomes (n=171) were observed in Adiantum hispidulum while a minimum number of chromosomes (n=30) were in Adiantum latifolium, Cheilanthes tenuifolia and Pellaea boivinii. About the 20 genera were observed to be with more than one base number and remaining 18 genera with a single base number. ARTICLE HISTORY