Sylvatrop, The Technical Journal of Philippine Ecosystems and Natural Resources 13(1&2): 81-92

Preliminary report on the ferns and fern allies

(pteridophytes) of Mt. Bali-it, Balbalasang-
Balbalan National Park, Kalinga, Northern
Luzon, Philippines
Julie F. Barcelona
Philippine National Herbarium (PNH)
Botany Division, National Museum of the Philippines
P. Burgos St., Manila, P.O. Box 2659, Philippines

A recent survey of the pteridoflora of Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park

(BBNP), (970-2,217m asl) on 16 Feb. to 3 Mar. 2003 resulted in the
documentation of 167 species in 67 genera and 30 families. Of these, sixteen
species and two varieties are endemic to the Philippines and four are restricted
to northern Luzon only.

Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park (BBNP) is home to a third of the

taxa restricted only to Luzon’s Central Cordillera and has 15% of the country’s
pteridoflora. Our collection of fertile specimens of Cyrtomium confirmed the
range extension of this genus to the Philippines. We rediscovered Dennstaedtia
macregori, a Luzon endemic only known from the type collected by MacGregor
on Mt. Polis in 1913. We also collected a species of Monachosorum which
was not previously reported in the Philippines. We found Aglaomorpha
cornucopia, an IUCN-declared rare species, to be a dominant understorey cover
of the most species-rich, mossy upper montane forest where 60% of the Luzon
endemics were also found to occur. The more disturbed lower and mid-montane
forests interspersed with pine forests have the least number of species documented
whereas Barangay Balbalasang and vicinity provide a diverse microhabitats for
the more pioneering and widespread species. The Banao people of BBNP has
managed their forest resources very well in this part of the Central Cordillera
having one of the largest, most pristine contiguous forests in the country.

Keywords: Aglaomorpha cornucopia, Central Cordillera, conservation, Cyrtomium, Dennstaedtia

macregori, endemic, ferns Thayeria cornucopia
82 J.F. Barcelona

LUZON’S CENTRAL CORDILLERA SUPPORTS A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF THE COUNTRY’S PTERIDOFLORA AS
shown by current collection data , this despite low collection intensity relative to the
land area (Barcelona 2004). Nearly three-fourths (2,700+ numbers) of the collections
of ferns and fern allies from this region were from Benguet province, collected as early
as 1883. The remaining one-third came from Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province,
and Ifugao.

Kalinga is one of the least botanically explored portions of Luzon’s Central

Cordillera. Before this survey, only 150+ numbers of pteridophytes are attributed to
this province. Previous botanical collections (Ramos and Edaño in 1920, Celestino in
1948, del Rosario and Cordero in 1965) from this province almost exclusively came
from Lubuagan, although few specimens were from Tinglayan and Balbalan.

Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park (BBNP) located in Balbalan Municipality in

western Kalinga Province lies in one of the largest areas of contiguous forests in the
Philippines. It was proclaimed as a protected area in 1974 (Mallari et al. 2001). As
shown by previous surveys, BBNP supports one of the highest levels of biological diversity
of any place in the Philippines (Heaney et al. 2000, 2004; Lepiten-Tabao et al. 2000).
The only pteridological exploration so far attributable to BBNP with accuracy was that
of L. Co in 1979 who collected in and around the Kalinga, Apayao and Abra border,
particularly in Barangays Bulac and Balbalasang in the municipality of Balbalan, resulting
in a total of nearly a hundred numbers representing 60 species.

This study provides a preliminary report on the diversity, ecology, and species
richness along elevational and vegetation type gradients at BBNP, particularly from
Barangay Balbalasang towards the summit of Mt. Bali-it. It also gives updates on the
conservation status, range extensions, and rediscoveries of some of the endemics and
threatened species.

Methods and study area

We conducted a preliminary survey of the pteridophytes (ferns and fern allies)

along elevational and microhabitat gradients (950-2,217 m asl) in Balbalasang-Balbalan
National Park, Kalinga Province, in northern Luzon (1,950-2,150 m at 17o25.7'N-
17o25.8'N, 120o59.8'E-121o00.1'E) from 16 February to 03 March 2003 (see map in
Heaney et al. this volume). When compared with previous botanical collections in this
part of the Central Cordillera, ours, perhaps, was the most comprehensive effort on this
plant group, though conducted over a brief period. A diversity of habitats was selected
to sample different taxa that are habitat specific.

Initial collection was made in the vicinity of Barangay Balbalasang (including

Sitio Saltan) at ca. 970-1,000 m (17o29.1'N, 121o03.3'E; 16-19 February 2003) including
Preliminary report on ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes) 83

the heavily disturbed, exposed areas such as road-cuts, rice paddies, vegetable farms,
and grasslands. The riparian habitats along the Pamosilon River at 1,000-1,100 m and
the subsequent patches of Pinus kesiya forests interspersed in montane forest on Mt.
Bali-it at elevations 1,550 m, 1,700 m, and 1,900, respectively, were also subsequently
surveyed.

The upper montane/mossy forests up to the summit of Mt. Bali-it between 1,900
m and 2,217 m (1,950 m, 17o25.8'N, 121o00.1'E) represented the high elevation sampling
areas. The forest is dominated by oaks (Lithocarpus spp.) with some Dacrycarpus
emergents, although scrambling bamboos (Schizostachyum) and pandans (Freycinetia
spp.) are also present. The canopy reached 10-15 m and is mostly closed. Trees are in
different growth strata, producing a multi-layered canopy. Pines (Pinus kesiya) are common
in frequently burned areas or as isolated trees in primary and old secondary-growth
indicating remnants of much earlier disturbance. Leaf-litter and shallow humus entirely
covered the ground surface. Although rainfall is probably abundant in the area, the
steepness of the terrain causes rapid run-off of water at this locality. Almost no rain fell
during our field studies and the ground was very dry. We spent a week (22-28 February
2003) of collecting around this area, thus making it the most intensively surveyed portion
of the mountain. Because of time and budget constraints, we concentrated most collecting
activities along and near trails although, whenever accessible, we also descended into
steep slopes towards the gulleys to about 100 m away from the main trails. We did not
establish transect lines but we included the different microhabitats representative of the
Central Cordillera range that were present on Mt. Bali-it as collection areas.

The summit of Mt. Bali-it (17°25.664'N, 120°59.664'E; 2,217 m) is characterized

by gnarled, moss-covered trees and shrubs, mostly oaks (Lithocarpus), laurels,
rhododendrons, and other ericaceous taxa having a canopy height of 6-8 m, although it
can be as low as 3 m in lower or protected spots. A thick cushion of Sphagnum mosses
cover the ground in some places. Trunks and branches of trees and shrubs are also
entirely covered by mosses and epiphytic ferns. Ground-living orchids (Eria spp.) are
abundant whereas the club-moss, Lycopodium volubile, is a frequent scrambler. A tall
grass, Miscanthus floridulus, is the pioneer species in recently-cleared areas. Epigeneium
lyonii, a beautiful epiphytic orchid, is quite common and was in full bloom at this
elevation.

During our descent from the higher camp back to Barangay Balbalasang, we also
sampled along the trails and immediate vicinities of the mid- and lower montane forests
at elevations between 1,500-1,900 m and 1,100-1,500 m, respectively. We spent three
days (1-3 Mar. 2003) collecting along the trailsides and slopes towards gulleys and dry
streams.
84 J.F. Barcelona

Specimens were collected in 2-15 replicates although some were unicates. Fertile
materials of small and medium-sized plants were uprooted whereas fronds of tree ferns
and other larger plants were cut into several smaller pieces. The collected specimens
were pressed and preserved in 70% ethanol. Field observations on the morphology,
habitat and ecology, as well as other field data, were carefully obtained per collection
number. These were then brought to the Philippine National Herbarium (PNH), National
Museum in Manila for drying, further processing, and identification.

Results

A total of 211 numbers of pteridophytes were collected during this trip representing
some 167 species, 67 genera, and 30 families. Despite limited collection in time and
effort, this part of BBNP is home to nearly one-third (30%) of the total pteridophyte
species recorded from Luzon’s Central Cordillera (about 546 species) and approximately
15% of the total species currently reported to occur in the Philippines.

Noteworthy discoveries

This field survey has added to our current knowledge not only on the diversity of
pteridophytes on this part of the Luzon’s Central Cordillera but, more importantly, on
the conservation status as well as range extensions of some taxa, especially the endemics
and the IUCN-declared threatened species. One interesting observation is the abundance
of Aglaomorpha cornucopia ( = Thayeria cornucopia Copel.) at elevations between
1,700 m and 2,130 m, towards the summit of Mt. Bali-it. Pure stands of this species
sometimes cover the understorey of the upper montane forests, starting as terrestrial but
in later development becoming scandent on shrubs and trees. Aglaomorpha cornucopia
was declared as a rare Philippine endemic fern (IUCN 1997). It has been collected on
the islands of Mindanao and Leyte. On Luzon, collections were from Benguet, Mountain
Province, Abra, and now Kalinga.This species is currently represented by a single
collection (Edaño 920, PNH 8770) at the PNH, and four other collections, all obtained
by L. Co, at PUH.

We also have documented a total of 16 Philippine endemic species and two

endemic varieties of pteridophytes on BBNP. Of these, four are restricted only to northern
Luzon, namely, Cyathea setulosa Copel., Microsorum heterolobum (C.Chr.) Copel.,
M. pentaphyllum (Baker) Copel., and Dennstaedtia macgregori Copel. The later was
known only from the type collected by MacGregor from Mt. Polis in 1913. Two other
species, Dryopteris permagna M.G. Price and Selaginella eschscholzii Hieron, are restricted
to northern Luzon but disjunct on Mindanao. On the other hand, Pneumatopteris
microloncha (Christ) Holtt. has been widely collected on Luzon and disjunct in Panay
I. whereas Pteris whitfordii Copel. was previously collected on Mindoro and Bohol
only until this survey. Other Philippine widespread endemics collected at BBNP include
Preliminary report on ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes) 85

Goniophlebium benguetense (Copel.) Copel., Pneumatopteris glabra (Copel.) Holtt.,

Pteris glaucovirens Goldm., Selliguea lagunensis (Christ) Hovenkamp, S. whitfordii
(Copel.) Hovenkamp, Vittaria alternans Copel. and V. crispomarginata. Sphaerostephanos
hirsutus (Kunze ex Mett.) Holtt. var. hirsutus is a widespread endemic variety, the other
variety, var. celebicus, is confined in Celebes and Lesser Sunda (Holttum 1981). Likewise,
Coryphopteris pubirachis (Baker) Holtt. var. philippinensis Holtt. is also a widespread
endemic variety, with the three other varieties distributed in Malesia and Polynesia.

The collection of a species of Cyrtomium from Mt. Bali-it confirmed the existence
of this genus in the Philippines. In his Flora, Copeland (1960) doubtfully included
Phanerophlebia caryotidea (Wall ex Hook. and Grev.) Copel. based on an imperfect,
sterile collection of Mearns (Mearns 38 - US628478) from Mt. Sto. Tomas in Benguet in
1905. Mearns’ specimen was later identified by Ching (Price 1990) as Cyrtomium
fortunei J. Sm., a species with a Sino-Japanese distribution at elevations of 600-2,400 m
and cultivated worldwide as an ornamental (Mei-Lu and Cheng 2003, see TROPICOS).
On Mt. Bali-it, Cyrtomium is infrequent, growing on forest floor in moist gulleys of
dry, mossy, closed-canopy forests between 1,940 m and 1,960 m. The recent work on
the distribution patterns of the genus Cyrtomium shows the genus to extend only as far
as south of Taiwan in Southeast Asia (Mei-Lu and Cheng 2003). Another significant
finding of this expedition is the recollection of a new species record for the Philippines,
Monachosorum cf. henryi Christ. This species was previously reported to occur in
Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces),
and N. Vietnam at elevations between 500-1,600 m (see TROPICOS). In the Philippines,
M. henryi was first collected from Mt. Data by L. Co (Co 3873, 4086- PUH) in 1993.

Species composition of pteridophytes in different microhabitats at an elevational gradient

The pteridoflora of Brgy. Balbalasang including Sitio Saltan (ca. 925-1,000 m) are
enumerated below. Pioneer species in heavily disturbed habitats such as roadcuts are
lined by Aglaomorpha acuminata, Sphenomeris chinensis, S. retusa, Onychium
siliculosum and O. japonicum, Sphaerostephanos spp., Chingia ferox, Christella sp.,
Microlepia strigosa, M. herbacea, Goniophlebium benguetense, Selliguea taeniata,
Asplenium cuneatum, Selaginella involvens, Pteris oppositi-pinnata, Nephrolepis spp.,
Diplazium spp., Lycopodium cernuum, Pyrrosia lanceolata, P. sphaerosticha, and
Polystichum sp. Moist areas along riverbanks and rice paddies are home to Blechnum
orientale, Equisetum ramosissimum, Pityrogramma calomelanos, and Christella spp.
Azolla pinnata is very common in rice paddies that drain into the rivers and streams. It
is an important source of nitrogen in these farmlands.

Stone walls along the Pamosilon River (ca. 1,000-1,100 m) are dominated by
Pyrrosia lanceolata and Drynaria sparsisora. The moist riverbanks are habitat to
86 J.F. Barcelona

Pseudocyclosorus tylodes, Pneumatopteris glabra, Calochlaena javanica, Cephalomanes

apiifolia, Davallia solida, and Lindsaea odorata.

The pteridophytes present on the forest floor of the upper montane forest (1,900
-2,217 m) up to the peak of Mt. Bali-it include those in the genera Cyathea (tree ferns),
Polystichum, Peranema, Acrophorus, Lycopodium, Aglaomorpha, Asplenium,
Diplazium, Sphaerostephanos, Pronephrium, Christella, Selaginella, and Plagiogyria,
among others. Dominant epiphytes are the filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) such as
Crepidomanes pallidum although Asplenium, Elaphoglossum, Belvisia, Selliguea,
Lindsaea, Davallia, Lycopodium, Histiopteris incisa, Vittaria, Ctenopteris spp.,
Lycopodium phlegmaria, Davallia repens, D. trichomanoides var. lorrainei,
Elaphoglossum luzonicum, Prosaptia, Monogramma, Hypolepis, and Goniophlebium,
Selliguea caudiformis, Ctenopteris curtisii, C. merrittii, and C. mollicoma are also
present. Dipteris conjugata, Gleichenia hirta and G. longissima, Dicranopteris linearis,
Lycopodium cernuum, and L. volubile are abundant in exposed areas such as forest gaps
and sides of ridges. Moist gullies and streambanks, on the other hand, are dominated by
Blechnum, Selaginella, Coryphopteris, Pteris, Osmunda banksiifolia, Asplenium
unilaterale, A. filipes, and Hymenophyllum productum. Summit species include
scramblers Histiopteris incisa and Lycopodium volubile and L. cernuum in association
with a species of ground orchid in the genus Eria. The understorey of the patches of pine
forests on the other hand, are abode to Nephrolepis cordifolia, Pteridium aquilinum
var. wightianum, and Parathelypteris beddomei (Baker) Ching. A population of
Leucostegia immersa was found mixed with Miscanthus on the margins of pine and
montane forests.

Our present data suggest that the most species-rich (56 species in 42 genera) area
for pteridophytes is the upper montane forest (1,900-2,217m). This is followed by the
locality within and the immediate vicinity of Barangay Balbalasang including Sitio
Saltan (46 species, 30 genera). The lower- (ca. 1,000-1,500m) and mid-montane forests
(ca. 1,500-1,900m), on the other hand, have the least number of species relative to both
elevation and area coverage (18 species, 16 genera; and 35 species, 22 genera, respectively).
However, because of substantial differences in collecting intensity in both time and
effort among these vegetation types, absolute conclusions are premature at this time.

Discussion and conclusion

Despite limited collecting time and effort, the results of this survey indicated that
BBNP is species-rich with nearly a third of the total species recorded in the northern part of
Luzon’s Central Cordillera and around 15% of the entire Philippine pteridoflora. Most
populations can be considered in stable condition consisting of many individuals. The
IUCN-declared threatened species, A. cornucopia, is in abundance. The discovery of some
taxa previously known only from types and the range extension of the genus Cyrtomium to
Preliminary report on ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes) 87

Table 1. Initial checklist of pteridophytes on Mt. Bali-it, BBNP, Kalinga, Northern

Luzon.

ADIANTACEAE lorrainii (Hance) Holtt.

Adiantum hispidulum Sw. Leucostegia immersa C. Presl
Coniogramme fraxinea (Don) Diels
Onychium japonicum (Thunb.) DENNSTAEDTIACEAE
Kunze Dennstaedtia macgregori Copel.
O. siliculosum (Desv.) C. Chr. Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J. Sm.
Hypolepis tenuifolia (G. Forst.)
ASPLENIACEAE Bernh. ex C. Presl
Asplenium cheilosorum Kunze Microlepia herbacea Ching & C. Chr.
A. crinicaule Hance apud Tard. ex C. Chr.
A. cuneatum Lam. M. speluncae (L.) Moore
A. filipes Copel. M. strigosa (Thunb.) C. Presl
A. lepturus J. Sm. ex C. Presl Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn var.
A. musifolium Mett. wightianum (Wall. ex Agardh) Tryon
A. nidus L.
A. normale Don DICKSONIACEAE
A. prionurus J.Sm. ex Mett. Calochlaena javanica (Blume) Turner &
A. steerei Harr. White
A. tenerum G. Forst.
A. tenuifolium Don DIPTERIDACEAE
Dipteris conjugata Reinw.
AZOLLACEAE
Azolla pinnata R. Br. DRYOPTERIDACEAE
Arachniodes aristata (G. Forst.) Tindale
BLECHNACEAE A. tripinnata (Goldm.) Sledge
Blechnum melanocaulon (Brack.) Cyrtomium cf. fortunei J. Sm.
T. C. Chambers & P. A. Farrant Dryopteris formosana (Christ) C. Chr.
var. melanocaulon D. permagna M.G. Price
B. orientale L. D. sparsa (Don) Kuntze
D. varia (L.) Kuntze
CYATHEACEAE Dryopteris sp.
Cyathea contaminans (Wall. ex Polystichum biaristatum (Blume)
Hook.) Copel. Moore
C. heterochlamydea Copel. P. horizontale C. Presl
C. lepifera (J. Sm. ex Hook.) Copel. Polystichum sp.
C. setulosa Copel.
C. tripinnata Copel. EQUISETACEAE
Cyathea sp. Equisetum ramosissimum Desf.
ssp. debile (Roxb.) Hauke
DAVALLIACEAE
Davallia embolostegia Copel. GLEICHENIACEAE
D. repens (L.f.) Kuhn Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.)
D. solida (G. Forst.) Sw. Underw., s.l.
D. trichomanoides Blume var.
88
Table 1 Cont.
Gleichenia hirta Blume var. hirta
G. longissima Blume
GRAMMITIDACEAE
Ctenopteris curtisii (Baker) Copel.
C. merrittii (Copel.) Tagawa
C. mollicoma (Nees & Blume) Kunze
Grammitis sp.
Monogramma paradoxa (Fée) Bedd.
Prosaptia celebica (Blume) Tagawa &
K. Iwats.
P. contigua (G. Forst.) C. Presl
P. obliquata (Blume) Mett.
Scleroglossum minus (Fée) C.Chr.
HYMENOPHYLLACEAE
Cephalomanes apiifolium (C. Presl) K.
Iwats.
C. cumingii (C. Presl) K. Iwats.
C. obscurum (Blume) K. Iwats. var.
obscurum
Crepidomanes auriculatum (Blume) K.
Iwats.
Crepidomanes cf. birmanicum (Bedd.)
K. Iwats.
C. humile (G. Forst.) Bosch
Hymenophyllum badium Hook. & Grev.
H. emarginatum Sw.
H. holochilum (Bosch) C. Chr.
H. meyenianum (C. Presl) Copel.
H. paniculiflorum C. Presl
H. reinwardtii Bosch
LINDSAEACEAE
Lindsaea odorata Roxb.
L. pulchella (J. Sm.) Mett. ex Kuhn
var. pulchella
Sphenomeris chinensis (L.) Maxon
var. chinensis
S. retusa (Cav.) Maxon
LOMARIOPSIDACEAE
Elaphoglossum blumeanum (Fée) J. Sm.
var. blumeanum
J.F. Barcelona
E. callifolium (Blume) T. Moore
E. luzonicum Copel.
Teratophyllum aculeatum (Blume) Mett.
ex Kuhn
LOXOGRAMMACEAE
Loxogramme avenia (Blume) C. Presl
LYCOPODIACEAE
Lycopodium cernuum L.
L. phlegmaria L.
L. piscium (Herter) Tagawa & Iwats.
L. serratum Thunb.
L. squarrosum G. Forst.
L. volubile Wilce
MARATTIACEAE
Angiopteris palmiformis (Cav.) C. Chr.
MONACHOSORACEAE
Monachosorum cf. henryi Christ
M. subdigitatum (Blume) Kuhn
OLEANDRACEAE
Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott
N. cordifolia (L.) C. Presl
N. multiflora (Roxb.) Jarrett ex Morton
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE
Ophioglossum pendulum L.
OSMUNDACEAE
Osmunda banksiifolia (C. Presl) Kuhn
PERANEMACEAE
Acrophorus nodosus C. Presl
Peranema aspidioides (Blume) Mett.
PLAGIOGYRIACEAE
Plagiogyria adnata (Blume) Bedd.
P. egenolfioides (Baker) Copel.
var. latipinna (Copel.) X.C. Zhang &
Noot.
P. glauca (Blume) Mett.
Preliminary report on ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes)
Table 1. Cont.
P. pycnophylla (Kunze) Mett.
P. stenoptera (Hance) Diels
POLYPODIACEAE
Aglaomorpha acuminata (Willd.)
Hovenkamp
A. cornucopia (Copel.) Roos
Belvisia platyrrhynchos (Kunze) Copel.
B. spicata (L.f.) Mirbel ex Copel.
Drynaria sparsisora (Desv.) Moore
Goniophlebium benguetense (Copel.)
Copel.
G. percussum (Cav.) Wagner & Grether
G. pseudoconnatum (Copel.) Copel.
G. subauriculatum (Blume) C. Presl
Microsorum heterocarpum (Blume)
Ching
M. heterolobum (C. Chr.) Copel.
M. pentaphyllum (Baker) Copel.
M. punctatum (L.) Copel.
Pyrrosia lanceolata (L.) Farwell
P. longifolia (Burm. f.) C.V. Morton
P. piloselloides (L.) M.G. Price
P. sphaerosticha (Mett.) Ching
Selliguea caudiformis (Blume) Carruth.
S. lagunensis (Christ) Hovenkamp
S. taeniata (Sw.) Parris
S. whitfordii (Copel.) Hovenkamp
PTERIDACEAE
Pteris mertensioides Willd.
P. oppositi-pinnata Fée
P. schlechteri Brause
P. spinescens C. Presl
Pteris cf. glaucovirens Goldm.
Pteris cf. loheri Copel.
Pteris cf. whitfordii Copel.
SELAGINELLACEAE
Selaginella ciliaris (Retz.) Spring
S. cupressina (Willd.) Spring
S. delicatula (Desv.) Alston
S. eschscholzii Hieron.
S. flagellifera W. Bull
89
S. involvens (Sw.) Spring
S. opaca Warb.
THELYPTERIDACEAE
Christella cf. minima Holtt.
Chingia ferox (Blume) Holtt.
Coryphopteris pubirachis (Baker)
Holtt. var. philippinensis Holtt.
Macrothelypteris torresiana (Gaud.)
Ching
Parathelypteris beddomei (Baker)
Ching var. beddomei
Pneumatopteris glabra (Copel.) Holtt.
P. ligulata (C. Presl) Holtt.
P. microloncha (Christ) Holtt.
Pseudocyclosorus tylodes (Kunze)
Moore
Sphaerostephanos hirsutus
(Kunze ex Mett.) Holtt. var. hirsutus
S. unitus (L.) Holtt.
VITTARIACEAE
Antrophyum sessilifolium (Cav.)
Spreng
Monogramma paradoxa (Fée) Bedd.
Vittaria alternans Copel.
V. crispomarginata Christ
WOODSIACEAE
Athyrium drepanopterum (Kunze) A.
Braun
Deparia petersenii (Kunze) M. Kato
var. petersenii
Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.
D. javanicum (Blume) Makino
D. polypodioides Blume
90 J.F. Barcelona

the Philippines imply that BBNP, and perhaps other contiguous forests of Luzon’s Central
Cordillera with similar habitats, still support a large percentage of the country’s pteridoflora.
Hence, it deserves urgent research and conservation attention. These data are consistent with
vertebrate groups surveyed at BBNP (Heaney et al., Diesmos et al. this volume).

Although considered to be the most disturbed portion of the collecting localities, the
area within and around Barangay Balbalasang (including Sitio Saltan) has more microhabitats
to support a more diverse pteridoflora. However, the taxa tend to be of widespread distribution
than those in the less disturbed upper montane forests. On the other hand, the poor pteridophyte
species representations at the lower- and mid-montane forests may be attributed to two
reasons. First, we spent the least time and effort on this area because we collected mostly
along the trails while hiking down to Barangay Balbalasang, although we also descended
into some forested gullies. Second, the presence of patches of pine forests at this elevation
range indicates disturbance, thus, this may also explain why the number of pteridophyte
species documented in this area is lesser when compared to those habitats immediately
below and above it. The discrepancy in the amount of effort and time spent in each collecting
site makes quantitative comparison of species richness between vegetation types along an
elevational gradient less meaningful, hence inconclusive.

The distribution of endemics follows closely the trends with vertebrates (Heaney et
al., Diesmos et al. this volume). More endemic taxa tend to occur on higher, less disturbed
montane forests. Of the 16 Philippine endemic pteridophyte species, 10 (ca. 62%) were
collected on the upper montane forests. Likewise, three of the four northern Luzon endemics
were also found in this area.

Most decisions on conservation priorities worldwide have been mainly based on

species richness as a measure of diversity as well as levels of endemism such that areas that
are species-rich and have high levels of endemism are a conservation priority. Moreover,
areas that support unique habitats and those actively experiencing or most vulnerable to
destruction and where, subsequently, species extinction is inevitable, are considered as
hotspots for conservation. However, meaningful comparison of biological species richness
between mountains, islands, and other areas can only be achieved when research effort and
intensity are consistent among these areas. Likewise, biogeographical hypotheses can only
be credibly tested when sufficient comparable data are available. In the Philippines, very
few areas have been intensively surveyed for pteridophytes and for these areas, fewer survey
results are actually accessible to the public, i.e. published (Hatusima 1966, Iwatsuki and
Price 1977, Amoroso et al. 1995, Barcelona 2003).

Though this is only a preliminary report, some conclusions can be drawn that BBNP
has nearly twice as many species as Mt.Iraya in Batanes (Barcelona 2003) and as many as
those found in the karst forests of Bohol (Barcelona et al. 2004, unpublished manuscript). In
Preliminary report on ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes) 91

this report, 11 taxa have not been identified to the species level or identifications are still
doubtful.

The Banao people of Kalinga has become a perfect example of how indigenous people
practicing century-old traditional forest management and utilization can realistically maintain
and preserve the integrity of their forest resources. This is evident in the current forest survey
results wherein the province of Kalinga, together with the adjacent Apayao, is considered to
have the least reduction of its old-growth forests among the provinces of the Cordillera
Administrative Region (Mallari et al. 2001).

Acknowledgment

I thank people of the Municipality of Balbalan, and especially Barangay Balbalasang, for
their warm hospitality during my short stay in their community. Many thanks to Rhyne Wayaway
who has been the best guide and field assistant. I am grateful to Dr. Larry Heaney, Eric Rickart,
Genevieve Gee, Nonito Antoque, Renato Fernandez, Bernard Malaga, and the people of Balbalasang
who provided great company and assistance with field work. I thank Mike Price, Benito Tan, Larry
Heaney, and Eric Rickart for comments on earlier drafts that improved the manuscript. Funding
was provided by the Barbara Brown, Ellen Thorne Smith, and Marshall Field Funds of the Field
Museum, the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Royal Netherlands Embassy, and the
European Union to the Haribon Foundation. The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources provided support for all of our activities and the local and provincial governments of
Balbalasang, Balbalan and the province of Kalinga for supporting and endorsing the project.
Finally, I am grateful to my friend and colleague Leonardo Co for his assistance in specimen
identification and to Tom Hollowell of the U.S. National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, DC for sending digital images of Cyrtomium.

Literature cited
Amoroso, V.B., F.M. Acma, and H.P. Pava. 1995. Diversity, status, and ecology of
pteridophytes in selected forests in Mindanao. CMU Publications Office, Mindanao.
403pp.

Barcelona, J. F. 2003. The taxonomy and ecology of the pteridophytes of Mt. Iraya and
vicinity, Batan Island, Batanes Province, Northern Philippines. In Pteridology in
the New Millenium. Chandra and Srivastava (eds). Kluwer Academy Publishers.
The Netherlands. 299-325.
Barcelona, J.F. 2004. Electronic database of Philippine pteridophyte collection in world
herbaria (21,500 entries).
Barcelona, J.F. N. E. Dolotina, G. S. Madroñero, W. G. Granert, and D. D. Sopot.
2004.The ferns and fern allies (pteridophytes) of the karst forests of Rajah Sikatuna
Protected Landscape (RSPL) and vicinity, Bohol Island, Philippines. Unpublished
manuscript of a paper presented during the 13th Annual Meeting of the Wildlife
Conservation Society of the Philippines, Antipolo, Manila. 22 Apr. 2004.
92 J.F. Barcelona

Copeland, E. B. 1958-1961. Fern flora of the Philippines (three volumes). Bureau of

Printing. Manila.
Diesmos, A. C., R. M. Brown, and G. V. A. Gee. 2002. Preliminary report on the
amphibians and reptiles of Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park, Luzon Island,
Philippines. Sylvatrop, the technical journal of Philippine ecosystems and natural
resources. (this volume).

Hatusima, S. 1966. An enumeration of the plants of Batan Island, Northern Luzon,

Philippines. Mem. Fac. Agr. Kagoshima Univ. 5:13-70.

Heaney, L. R., A. Diesmos, B. R. Tabaranza Jr., N. A. Mallari, and R. Brown. 2000.

Beacon of hope - A first report from Kalinga Province, in the Northern Central
Cordillera. Haring Ibon. 2:14-18.
Heaney, R. L., D. S. Balete, G. A. Gee, M. V. Lepiten-Tabao, E. A. Rickart, and B. R.
Tabaranza, Jr. 2002. Preliminary report on the mammals of Balbalasang, Kalinga
Province, Luzon. Sylvatrop, the technical journal of Philippine ecosystems and
natural resources. (this volume).

Holttum, R. E. 1981. Thelypteridaceae. Flora Malesiana, Series II-Pteridophyta: Ferns

and Fern Allies. 1(5): 456.

Iwatsuki, K. and M.G. Price. 1977. The pteridophytes of Mt. Burnay and vicinity, northern
Luzon. Tonan Ajia Kenkyu (Southeast Asian Studies). 14(4):540-572.

J. Mei-Lu and X. Cheng. 2003. Distributional study of the genus Cyrtomium C. Presl
(Dryopteridaceae) in Chandra, S. and M. Srivastava (eds.). Pteridology in the New
Millenium. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. 133-141.
Lepiten-Tabao, M. V., G. V. A. Gee, R. E. Fernandez, and G. Q. del Rosario. 2000. Mt.
Balbalasang rapid site assessment. Final Report of the Biological Team. Haribon
Foundation. Unpublished Report.

Mallari, N. A. D., B. R. Tabaranza, Jr., and M. J. Crosby. 2001. Key conservation sites in
the Philippines. Bookmark, Makati City. 485 pp.

Price, M. G. 1990. Philippine fern notes. Contr. Univ. Mich. Herb. 17:267-278.
Walter, K.S. and H.J. Gillet (eds.). 1997. IUCN red list of threatened plants (1998).
Compiled by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. IUCN-The World
Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. lxiv +862 pp.