Author : Narval, Eleanor M.

Summary : This study aimed to assess the diversity, status and distribution of pteridophytes in Brgy. Lake Duminagat, Malindang Range, Don Victoriano Misamis Occidental, specifically it aimed to: (a) determine the number and kind of species of pteridophytes; (b) describe the diagnostic characters of the species; (c) assess the conservation status of each whether it is endemic, endangered, rare, common or economically important based on IUCN's definition; (d) compute the species importance value in the sampling sites; and (e) record the distribution of each species in Brgy. Lake Duminagat, inventory and assessment of pteridophytes revealed the presence of 4, 594 individuals, 46 genera, 83 species and 26 families in an area of 1,200 sq m. Of this total number of species, 2 species are endemic, 1 endangered, 28 are rare, and 18 are reported to be economically important species. Furthermore, 6 species of the pteridophytes were known to be medicinal, 3 species were utilized as food and 14 species had the potential of being ornamental plants. As to the sampling sites, subplot I had the highest importance value while subplot III had the lowest. The species importance value in subplot I may be due to its high influence in the community.