Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world

Ferns are seedless vascular plants which differ from gymnosperms and flowering plants as they do not have either seeds or flowers but reproduce via spores. They have many features similar to mosses and algae but are usually differentiated from these simpler plants as they have xylem and phloem for...

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Main Author: Yusuf, Umi Kalsom
Format: Inaugural Lecture
Language:English
English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2010
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/1/Cover.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/2/PROF.%20UMI%20KALSOM.pdf
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author Yusuf, Umi Kalsom
author_facet Yusuf, Umi Kalsom
author_sort Yusuf, Umi Kalsom
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Ferns are seedless vascular plants which differ from gymnosperms and flowering plants as they do not have either seeds or flowers but reproduce via spores. They have many features similar to mosses and algae but are usually differentiated from these simpler plants as they have xylem and phloem for the conduction of water and food materials. They are most commonly found in moist, shady forest, crevices in rock faces, and also grow in arctic and alpine tundra, saline mangrove swamps, semiarid deserts and on coastal rocks. The greatest number of fern species can be found in the tropics of both hemispheres. It was estimated that about 10500-11300 of the fern species have been described and 1165 species were recorded in the tropical rain forest of Malaysia. This lecture discusses the morphological diversity, anatomy and cytology of Malaysian rain forest ferns. Selected research works on morphology, anatomy and cytology of these ferns are reviewed. The economic importance of ferns as food, medicine, fibre, craft, fuel and building materials is also discussed. In addition, a number of comprehensive studies on the chemistry and biological activities in ferns are also reviewed. Apart from exploitation of fern taxa for their significant scientific documentation and economic value, the awareness on their conservation status is also emphasized.
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format Inaugural Lecture
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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language English
English
last_indexed 2025-11-15T08:15:26Z
publishDate 2010
publisher Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
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spelling upm-182602015-11-19T08:21:05Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/ Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world Yusuf, Umi Kalsom Ferns are seedless vascular plants which differ from gymnosperms and flowering plants as they do not have either seeds or flowers but reproduce via spores. They have many features similar to mosses and algae but are usually differentiated from these simpler plants as they have xylem and phloem for the conduction of water and food materials. They are most commonly found in moist, shady forest, crevices in rock faces, and also grow in arctic and alpine tundra, saline mangrove swamps, semiarid deserts and on coastal rocks. The greatest number of fern species can be found in the tropics of both hemispheres. It was estimated that about 10500-11300 of the fern species have been described and 1165 species were recorded in the tropical rain forest of Malaysia. This lecture discusses the morphological diversity, anatomy and cytology of Malaysian rain forest ferns. Selected research works on morphology, anatomy and cytology of these ferns are reviewed. The economic importance of ferns as food, medicine, fibre, craft, fuel and building materials is also discussed. In addition, a number of comprehensive studies on the chemistry and biological activities in ferns are also reviewed. Apart from exploitation of fern taxa for their significant scientific documentation and economic value, the awareness on their conservation status is also emphasized. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2010 Inaugural Lecture NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/1/Cover.pdf application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/2/PROF.%20UMI%20KALSOM.pdf Yusuf, Umi Kalsom (2010) Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world. [Inaugural Lecture]
spellingShingle Yusuf, Umi Kalsom
Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
title Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
title_full Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
title_fullStr Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
title_full_unstemmed Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
title_short Ferns of Malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
title_sort ferns of malaysian rain forest: a journey through the fern world
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/1/Cover.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18260/2/PROF.%20UMI%20KALSOM.pdf