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Daily News Analysis

Cryptogamic garden  

13th July, 2021 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context:

  • India’s first cryptogamic garden opens in Dehradun.

 

More about news:

  • Around 50 species have been grown in the garden at Deoban in Chakrata at a commanding height of 9,000 ft.
  • It is housing nearly 50 species of lichens, ferns and fungi was inaugurated in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district.
  • It is spread over three acres and its low pollution levels and moist conditions are conducive for the growth of these species.
  • Deoban has pristine majestic forests of Deodar and Oak which create a natural habitat for cryptogamic species.

 

Cryptogamae

  • It means “hidden reproduction” referring to the fact that no seed, no flowers are produced. Thus, cryptogams represent the non-seed bearing plants.
  • Algae, bryophytes (moss, liverworts), lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups of cryptogams that require moist conditions to survive.
    • Algae comprises the most primitive organisms which are predominantly aquatic, both in marine as well as freshwater habitats.
    • Bryophytes are the simplest and primitive land plants that occupy an intermediate position between algae and pteridophytes.
    • Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an algae
    • Ferns are the largest living group of primitive vascular plants while fungi is a kingdom of usually multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dehradun-cryptogamic-garden-uttarakhand-indias-first-7399416/