THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PTERIDOPHYTIC FLORA AND PLANT RESOURCES IN GUANGXI

A study on the flora of Guangxi indicates that there are 54 families,125 genera and 532 species of pteridophytes showing the following characteristics:(1) diverse geographical elements,but the tropical and tropical to subtropical ones being dominant,together accounting for 74 6% of the total families and 85 1% of the total genera respectively;(2) many primitive elements as well as those that once played a key role in the phylogenetic line;(3) as many as 42 endemicspecies comprising 7 9% of the total,but no endemic genus;(4) judging from the generic similarity,the flora is closely related with those of the adjacent regions,indicating that it is an integral part of the Cathaysian Flora. Finally,as for the pteridophytic resources,these fall into three main categories,i.e.medicinal,ornamental and edible,showing great potential for future utilization,though the present utilization level is low. This provides favorable opportunties for the conservation of pteridophytic diversity as well as a resource advantage for local economic development.