Fern epiphytes of the high altitudes of eastern part of Kumaun Himalaya

While exploring ferns and fern allies of high altitudes (range above 2100 meter) of eastern part of the western Himalayas, population of large number of epiphytic ferns were encountered. A total of 19 fern species were found growing on eight species of broad leaves angiosperms and on only two conifers. The majority of these belonged to ferns family Polypodiaceae. The physical and chemical properties of the bark of host trees are considered important in this epiphytism in the temperate and subalpine Himalayas. Reasons of poor representation of epiphytic ferns on conifer species are also discussed.