First Record of Hemionitis arifolia (Burm.f.) T.Moore from Jharkhand State and a Rare Sighting of Didymocarpus pygmaeus C.B.Clarke in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, India: Distributional Notes and Species-wise Ethnomedicinal Importance

Floristic diversity of Jharkhand State remains inadequately documented, particularly with respect to rare and medicinally important plant taxa occurring within protected forest landscapes. The present communication reports the first confirmed record of Hemionitis arifolia from Jharkhand State and documents a rare sighting of Didymocarpus pygmaeus from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Hemionitis arifolia, a shade-loving medicinal fern, was recorded from moist forest floor habitats and represents a notable range extension in eastern India. Ethnomedicinally, the species is traditionally used by indigenous communities for the treatment of skin diseases, wounds, ulcers, and inflammatory conditions; its fronds and rhizomes are also reported to possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, supporting its pharmaceutical relevance. Didymocarpus pygmaeus, a small and rarely encountered angiosperm, was observed growing on rocky and shaded forest slopes within the sanctuary. Local ethnobotanical knowledge indicates its use in the treatment of respiratory ailments, fever, and minor infections, while preliminary phytochemical studies from other regions suggest the presence of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and therapeutic potential. The documentation of these two medicinally significant species highlights the ecological importance of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and underscores the need for systematic botanical exploration, conservation of microhabitats, and preservation of traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge in Jharkhand.