Independent Researcher, India

Nagaon is the most populous district of Assam and one of the largest in area. It is known as the rice bowl of Assam. Nagaon district spreads in 3993 sq. km having 28,26,006 populations, Kaziranga National Park and Lowkhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. Many ferns from tropical rain forests are epiphytes, which mean they only grow on other plant species. Pteridophytes, the seedless vascular plants, had a very flourishing past in dominating the vegetation on the earth about 280-230 million years ago. Although they are now largely replaced by the seed bearing vascular plants in the extant flora today. In view of variable climatic and altitudinal variations the Indian sub-continent represents Himalayas, Gangetic plains and Thar Desert as biodiversity centers. All the pteridophytes have economic importance. The pteridophytes grow in different habitats like moist or dry rocks and boulders, on tree trunks, as hydrophytes in lakes, ponds, etc., on forest floors and edges, along perennial streams and deep ravines, grasslands, tea and coffee estates, inside dark area, etc. The industrial sector growing day by day mainly cements plants in Nagaon District. Tree fens need special attention for conservation.