Abstract: Field survey and literature searching were conducted to develop a species list of lycophytes and ferns in Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 184 species (including subspecies, varieties, forms) belonging to 66 genera and 30 families were found, of which 176 species of 61 genera from 27 families were wild plants and 8 species of 7 genera from 6 families were cultivated. The dominant families were Dryopteridaceae (41 species), Pteridaceae (17), Thelypteridaceae (17), Athyriaceae (16); dominant genera were Dryopteris(26), Asplenium(15), Selaginella(8), Polystichum (8). The geographical components of families and genera included 6 and 10 categories, respectively, and both were dominated by pan-tropical elements. Moreover, the geographical components of species included 11 categories, in which East Asian and endemic to China predominated. In addition, the total number of species can be grouped into 5 distribution types, in which the terrestrial ecological group was the most dominant. According to floristic similarities at the level of family, genus, and species, Jiangsu flora was most closely allied to that of Anhui Province, but was less closely allied with that of Zhejiang Province, and distinct from that of Shandong Province. In summary, Jiangsu is relatively rich in lycophytes and ferns, with distinct dominant families and genera, complex floristic elements, and temperate floristic nature in the flora. It is suggested to promote conservation of the endangered lycophytes and ferns in Jiangsu Province.

Key words: diversity of pteridophytes, biogeography, Jiangsu Province