全 文 ：第 22卷　第 3 期　　　　　　　　　　　　　植　　　物　　　研　　　究 2002 年　7月
Vol.22　No.3　　　　　　　　　　　BULLETIN OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH July , 　2002
湖南省武陵源蕨类植物研究
吴世福 　李新国　赵惠芳
(上海师范大学生物技术系 , 上海　201418)
摘　要　本文是对中国 、湖南省武陵源蕨类植物初步研究 ,报道了该区系的组成 、生态类型 、分布
的形式并且和相邻地区的关系进行了讨论。在武陵源区有 256种(包括变种和变型),分属 86属 ,
38科。属的地理成份可以分为 12种类型。武陵源区蕨类植物区系属我国华中华东区 ,它与我国
西南区关系最密切。蕨类植物垂直分布可以分为低山 、中山和山顶三个带 。并指出湖南省西北地
区的蕨类植物种类 、地理关系 、区系发育等有需进一步调查的必要。
关键词　武陵源区;蕨类植物区系特征;蕨类分布
STUDYON THE PTERIDOPHYTE OF WULINGYUAN
FROM HUNAN PROVICE ,CHINA
WU Shi-fu　LI Xin-guo　ZHAO Hui-fang
(Department of Biotechnology , Shanghai Teachers University , Fengxian , Shanghai 201418)
Abstract　A preliminary study of the pteridophyte flora of Wulingyuan in Hunan Province , of China is car-
ried out.The floristic compositions , ecological types , distribution and the affinities with its neighbor regions
are discussed.In this region , 256 species including varieties and forms of pteridophytes belonging to 86 gen-
era , which are divided into 12 distribution types , in 38 families are recorded.The pteridophyte flora of Wul-
ingyuan is belonging to east and central China region and closely related to southwestern China region.Three
vertical distributions of pteridophytes , i.e.lower mountane , moutane and summit mountane , are divided.
Further investigation in northwestern region of Hunan province is necessary.
Key words　Wulingyuan;characterstics of pteridophyte flora;distribution types
1　Introduction
Wulingyuan is located in the Wuling mountains
(Wulingshan)in north western Hunan near Dayong(28°
08′-29°24′N , 110°27′-110°53′E).This area is on the
world heritage list as an area of scenic and historic inter-
est.Wulingyuan with an area of 376 square kilometers is
under state protection and comprises Zhangjiajie National
Forest Park and the three scenic zones of Suoxiyu , Tianz-
ishan and Yangjiajie.
Wulingyuan s geographical position , ancient rock
strata , altitudinal range and topographical complexity ,
fertile soil , mild and humid climate offer a myriad of eco-
logical niches for ferns to occupy.Wulingyuan is not only
one of the most prolific fern regions in middle and eastern
China but it also has a very diverse flora and fauna.Five
hundred woody plant species(from 93 families), includ-
ing Ginkgoes (Ginkgo biloba), Dove Tree (Davidia in-
volucrate), Chinese Tulip Tree (Liriodendron chinensis)
第一作者简介:吴世福(1946-),男,教授 ,主要从事蕨类植物区系研究。
收稿日期:2001-03-20
and Chinese Yew(Taxus chinensis)occur in the second-
ary , mixed deciduous forests , while Rhesus Monkets , Gi-
ant Salamanders , civets and Red-bellied Trago pans and
other rare animals inhabit the valleys and streams of Wul-
ingyuan.
2　An enumeration of pteridophytes
The wealth and diversity of Wulingyuan′s fern flora
is highlighted in the tables that follow.From the prelimi-
nary survey of this region fifteen hundred specimens of
pteridophytes (ferns and fern allies)were collected.
These initial collections indicate that the fern flora of
Wulingyuan comprises:38 families ,86 genera[ 1] ,256 spe-
cies(including varieties).
Table 1　Comparison of the pteridophyte flora of Wulingyuan with similar areas of central and eastern China.
Region&Province Fami lies Genera Species
Wulingyuan , Hunan 38 86 256
Wuyishan , Fujian[3] 39 86 240
Huangshan , Anhui[ 2] 33 64 132
Shennongjia , Hubei 22 51 125
Juilongshan , Zhejiang 33 72 161
Jiangsu Province 32 64 134
　　The statistics in Table 1 compare favourably with
those of other mountain areas at a similar latitude (also
refer to Table 2 below)in central and eastern China and
they also demonstrate the need for the documentation of
the flora of this botanically rich mountain region.
Table 2　Comparison of pteridophyte flora of Wulingyuan and Badagongshan, Hupingshan , Tsingyunshan and Lushan.
Region
Wulingyuan[ 2]
Hunan
Badagongshan[ 5]
Hunan
Hupingshan
Hunan
Lushan
Jiangxi
Tsingyunshan
Sichuan
Lats.&Longs. 29°15～ 27′N&110°15～ 52′E
29°40～ 49′N
&109°41′
-110°09′E
29°58′～ 30°08′N
&110°29-59′E
29°49′N
&115°56′E
29°37～ 51′N
&106°18～ 32′E
Maximum altitude(m) 1334 1665 2099 1543 952
Number of Families 38 38 40 39 38
Common fami lies in Wulingyuan&other area 34 35 36 31
Number of Genera 86 79 95 86 70
Common Genera in Wulingyuan &other area 71 75 61 59
No.of species 256 241 346 237 140
Common Species in Wulingyuan&other area 167 189 131 91
　　The principal pteridophyte families represented in
Wulingyuan are as followas , Thelypteridaceae (with 12
genera and 22 species), Athyriaceae (with 11 genera and
29 species), Polypodiaceae (with 10 genera and 27 spe-
cies), Dryopteridaceae (with 7 genera and 65 species),
These four families comprise about 46.1% of the total
genera and 56% of the ferns total species which occur in
Wulingyuan.The remainder are accounted for by Asple-
niaceae (13 species), Pteridaceae (12 species), Hym-
enophyllaceae (11 species), Dennstaedtiaceae (8 spe-
cies), Selaginellaceae (8 species), Hemionitidaceae (7
species), Plagiogyraceae (6 species), Adiantaceae (5
species), and the residue accounted for by another 26
families.(5 families have 3 ～ 4 species , 6 families have
3813期　　　　　　　　　　　　　　吴世福等:湖南省武陵蕨类植物研究
2 species , 15 families have only one species.)
Eighty five pteridophyte genera occur in Wulingyuan
and the greatest speciation occurs in the following genera:
Dryopteris (19 species), Arachniodes (18 species),
Polystichum (16 species), Aspleniun(13 species), Pter-
is(12 species), Athyrium (9 species), Allantodia and
Selaginella (8 species), Cyrtomium and Coniogramme
(7 species), Plagiogyria (6 species)and Adiantum and
Lepisorus(5 species).14 genera have 3 ～ 4 species , 18
genera have 2 species , 41 genera have only one species.
3　Characteristics of Fern-flora
The relationships of the ferns and fern allies of Wul-
ingyuan to the other geographical areas of China are shown
in Table 3.
As shown in table 2 Wulingyuan has much in com-
mon with other Chinese moutain ranges at similar latitudes
e.g.Badagongshan and Hupingshan in Hunan province
and with many similarities to the flora of the Lushan in
Jiangxi province and Tsingyunshan in Sichuan province.
The geographic elements which relate to the pteridophyte
flora of Wulingyuan are those of eastern China and middle
China.But as shown in Table 3 this flora has much in
common with that of southwestern China and many simi-
larities to the fern flora of Southern China , but with few
affinities with the floras of north western China and north
eastern China.The Athyrium tianzeshanense and Cyrto-
mium wulingense endemic species in the Wulingyuan fern
flora accounts for about 1% of the total number of spe-
cies.
Table 3　The pteridophyte flora of Wulingyuan and its
relationship with the other areas of China
Region of China Common species
% of total fern species
in Wulingyuan
South western 238 93
South China 186 73
North China 67 26
North western 58 23
North eastern 22 9
　　The 256 species of pteridophytes documented so far
from Wulingyuan are divided into twelve phytogeographic
elements on the basis of their world distribution.The gen-
era in each element are presented in Table 4.
Table 4　Summary of the phytogeographic elements in the pteridophyte flora of Wulingyuan
Phytogeographic element No.of genera % of genera Examples
Cosmopolitan 12 14
Huperzia , Selaginella , Hymenophyllum , Pteridium , Adiantum , Athyriu , As-
plenium , Dryopteris , Polystichum , Marsi lea , Salvinia , Azolla
Pant ropical 23 26.7
Palhinhaea , Diplopterygium , Lygodium , Mecodium , Trichomanes ,
Dennstaedtia , Lindsaea , Sphenomeris , Hypolepis , Pteris , Notholaena , Chei-
losoria , Aleuritopteris , Coniogramme , Vit tari , Allantodia , Parathelypteris ,
Cyclosorus , Pseudocyclosorus , Arachniodes , Ctenitis , Elaphoglossum , Loxo-
gramme
Tropical Asian&Tropical Ameri-
can Disjunc
2 2.3 Diplazium and Plagiogyra
Old World Tropical 7 8.1 Dicranopteris , Crepidomanes , Gonocormus , Microlepia , Colysis , Pyrrosia ,
Drynaria
Tropical Asian&Tropical
Australian
3 3.5 Pronephrium , Athriopsis , Gymnosphaera
Tropical Asian&Tropical African 7 8.1 Dryoathyrium , Cornopteris , Hypodematium , Leptogramma , Neolipsorus ,
Lepisorus , Microsorum
Tropical Asian(Indo-Malaysian) 11 12.8
Monachosorum , Onychium , Acystopteris , Anisocampium , Triblemma , Ma-
crothelypteris , Metathelypteris , Pseudophegopteris , Acrophorus , Polypodiodes ,
Arthromeris
Northern Temperate 10 11.6 Equisetum , Hippochaete , Sceptreidium , Osmunda , Gymnocarpium , Phe-
gopteris , Matteucia , Struthiopteris , Woodwardia , Woodsia
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East Asian & North American
Disjunct
1 1.2 Lunathyrium
Temperate Asian 1 1.2 Cyrtomium
East Asian 7 8.1 Glaphyropteridopsis , Cyclogramma , Dictyocline , Leptorumohra , Lepidomi-
crosorum , Lepidogrammitis , Phymatopsis
Chinese Endemic 2 2.3 Phanerophlebiopsis , Cyrtogonellum
　　It is evident from Table 4 that the pantropical ele-
ment is the largest Phytogeographic element in the Wul-
ingyuan pteridophyte flora contributing about 30% of the
genera (excluding the cosmopolitan genera), other ele-
ments of significance to the fern flora of Wulingyuan are
the Tropical Asian , northern temperate contributing 15%
and 14% respectively of the fern genera , and the East
Asian phytogeographic element which contributes 9.6%
of the genera of ferns and fern allies in Wulingyuan.
The phytogeographical affinities of the Wulingyuan
pteridophyte flora are summarized below:
Table 5　Distribution of pteridophyte genera in Wulingyuan
Distribution Number of genera % of total genera % of genera excluding
cosmopolitan genera
Cosmopolitan 12 14
Tropical 53 61.6 71.6
Subt ropical 11 12.8 14.9
Temperate 10 11.6 13.5
　　86 genera comprise the Wulingyuan pteridophyte flo-
ra ,86.5% of these genera have a tropical to subtropical
distribution while the remaining 13.5% is composed of
genera with more distributions in the temperate zone (ex-
cluding the cosmopolitan genera).
Table 6　Summary of the distribution of the pteridophyte families represented in Wulingyuan
Distribution Number of fami lies % of total families % of fami lies excluding
cosmopolitan families
Cosmopolitan 17 44.7
Tropical-Subt ropical 16 42.1 76.2
Subt ropical 1 2.6 4.8
Subtropical-Temperate zone 1 2.6 4.8
Temperate zone 3 7.9 14.3
　　38 families comprise the flora of Wulingyuan , 80%
～ 85%of the families(excluding the cosmopolitan fami-
lies)represented have tropical-subtropical distribution.
To further support this conclusion it should be noted that
the cosmopolitan families Athyriaceae , Polypodiaceae and
Dryopteridaceae are also widely distributed in tropical and
subtropical regions.From the preceding analysis it is ap-
parent that the Wulingyuan fern flora is dominated by taxa
with tropical-subtropical montane distributions.
These figures suggest a close relationship between
the fern flora of Wulingyuan and Japan .This relationship
is reflected in the similarity of contributions made by the
tropical and subtropical phytogeographic elements to the
flora of the both regions.Also the fact that Wulingyuan
and Japan have 82 genera(e.g.Leptorumohra and Lepid-
omicrosorum)and about 131 species in common.Both of
3833期　　　　　　　　　　　　　　吴世福等:湖南省武陵蕨类植物研究
them affinities with the Indo-Malayan element and have
least similarities to the fern flora of America and Europe.
4　The vertical distribution of pteridophytes
An analysis of the elevational distribution of the
pteridophytes in Wulingyuan is presented below(Teble
7).
Table 7　Summary of the elevational distribution of the pteridophytes in Wulingyuan
Elevational region Altitudinal range(m) Examples
Lower
montane
500
Selaginella uncinata , Osmunda vachellii , Diplopterygium glaucum , Mecodium badium , Monachoso-
rum henryi , Microlepia marginata , Lindsaea odorata , Pteris excelsa , Athyrium strigi llosum , Trib-
lemma lancea , Pronephrium penangiana , Dictyocline wilfordii , Acrophorus stipellatus , Cyrtomium ,
hookerianum , Elaphoglossum yoshinagae , Neolepisorus ovatus , Microsorum buergerianm , M.hyme-
nodes
Montane 500～ 1100
Selaginella moellendorf ii , Dennstaedtia scabra , Pterisdeltodon , P.henryi , Aleuritopteris argentea ,
Chei losoria chusana , Notholaena chinensis , Onychium japonicum , Adiantum edentulum , Athyrium
wardii , Anisocampium sheareri , Allantodia hirtipes , A.metteniana , Metathelypteris hattori , Asple-
nium prolongatum , Woodwardia unigemmata , Polystichum acutidens , Polystichum craspedosorum ,
Cyrtomium nephrolepioides , Arachniodes amoena , Polypodiodes amoenum
Summit 1000
Dennstaedtia pilosella , Pteridium revolutum , Lunathyrium centro-chinense , Parathelypteris nippon-
ica , Matteucia orientalis , Woodsia polystichoides , Polystichummakinoi , P.tripteron , Lepisorus as-
terolepis , Pyrrosia sheareri , Loxogramma grammitiodes
　　The features of the three altitudinal regions are out-
lined as follows:
Lower montane region:This valley is occurs below
500 metre and is dominated by broadleaf evergreen forest.
The main pteridophyte species are mesophilic and hy-
grophilous.
Montane forest region:This region is in the belt be-
tween the altitudes of 500 ～ 1100 metres.Because of the
steep gradients and the rough terrain the vegetation is
sparse in this region , and the fern specises tend to be
drought resistant and very adaptable to adverse conditions
accordingly.
Summit region:This region is over 1000 metres.As
most of the indigenous forest destroyed
the woodlands are sparse and montane shrub-grass-
land spreads widely.
References
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