According to C.R. Fraser Jenkins (2008) 16 species, e.g. B. appendiculata (Willd.) K.Iwats., B. thommankuthiana Nampy, B. semicordata (Baker) Ching, B. costulata (Hook.) Fras.-Jenk., B. sinensis (Baker) K.Iwats., B. subcrenatoides Fras.-Jenk., B. angustipinna (Hayata) Ching, B. asplenifolia, B. costata, B. crispatula, B. nodiflora, B. presliana, B. virens.

Hi Sachin,

Though the key presented here is for Vietnam and Laos, it might be usefull for India as well.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BOLBITIS IN VIETNAM AND LAOS

1. Veins free

2. Perisopre reticulate; lateral pinnae subentire or crenate, apex

obtuse or acute

3. Stipe and rachis subglabrous; base of pinnae asymmetrical;

fertile pinnae ovate or oblong B. appendiculata

3. Stipe and rachis densely scaly; base of pinnae symmetrical;

fertile pinnae moniliform B. hookeriana

2. Perispore cristate-undulate; lateral pinnae pinnatifid, apex

acuminate

4. Stipe scaly at the base, rachis and costa very sparsely scaly;

lateral sterile pinnae less than 20 pairs; pinnae subentire or

shallowly lobed B. sinensis

4. Stipe, rachis and costa underneath densely scaly; lateral

sterile pinnae more than 30 pairs; pinnae lobed more than

halfway towards the costa B. tonkinensis

1. Veins more or less anastomosing

5. Areoles with free included veinlets

6. Veins forming a costal areole, otherwise free; terminal

segment similar to the lateral ones

7. Fertile pinnae more or less pteridoid, sporangia inserted

along the margin only B. copelandii

7. Fertile pinnae acrostichoid, sporangia inserted all over

the lower surface B. crispatula

6. Veins forming 2 to more areoles

8. Terminal segment similar to the lateral ones

B. yunnanensis

8. Terminal segment different from the lateral ones

9. Fronds in 2 series on rhizome, terminal segment [+ or -]

conform to the pinnae B. heteroclita

9. Fronds in 3 series on rhizome, terminal segment

triangular B. christensenii

5. Areoles lacking free included veinlets

10. Rhizome high climbing, up to 2 m B. scandens

10. Rhizome terrestrial or epiphyte, short-creeping

11. Lamina hard, coriaceous, lustrous when dried, lateral veins

regular, obvious on both sides B. viriens

11. Lamina herbaceous to chartaceous, matte, lateral veins

obscure

12. Dried lamina purplish B. scalpturata

12. Dried lamina greenish

13. Margin of pinnae usually shallowly lobed, rounded or

rounded cuneate at the base, terminal segment acute

or short-flagelloid B. subvardata

13. Margin of pinnae entire, narrowly cuneate at the

base, terminal segment similar to the lateral ones

B. Ianceolata

If you make the count in the key table there are 14 species. Kryzstoff Piatek suggests 16. I figger that in India there must be around and between 12 to 18 species, as a first approaximation. Maybe the Indian biodiversity portal gives a more conclusive outcome.

Cheers,

Frank

Thank You Dr. Frank Veroustraete

I think more than 20 species are present in India. Need to do re-visionary work on Indian Bolbitis.